Reclassifications Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	$ 538,633
Balance at end of period	517,128	$ 538,633
MSA Safety Incorporated - Pension and other post-retirement benefits
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	(125,570)	(77,080)	$ (132,031)
Tax benefit (expense)	4,173	29,832	(25,783)
Total other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications, net of tax	(4,433)	(54,361)	46,464
Tax benefit	(5,333)	(2,992)	(5,066)
Total amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax	10,614	5,871	8,487
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	6,181	(48,490)	54,951
Balance at end of period	(119,389)	(125,570)	(77,080)
MSA Safety Incorporated - Net actuarial (losses) gains
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, before Tax	(8,002)	(84,495)	72,008
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss, before tax	16,215	9,114	13,875
MSA Safety Incorporated - Prior service (cost) credit
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, before Tax	(604)	302	239
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss, before tax	(268)	(251)	(322)
MSA Safety Incorporated - Foreign currency translation
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	(41,160)	(1,189)	4,959
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	(47,650)	(39,971)	(6,148)
Balance at end of period	(88,810)	(41,160)	(1,189)
Noncontrolling Interests - Pension and other post-retirement benefits
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	0	0	0
Tax benefit (expense)	0	0	0
Total other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications, net of tax	0	0	0
Tax benefit	0	0	0
Total amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax	0	0	0
Balance at end of period	0	0	0
Noncontrolling Interests - Net actuarial (losses) gains
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, before Tax	0	0	0
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss, before tax	0	0	0
Noncontrolling Interests - Prior service credit (cost)
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Reclassifications, before Tax	0	0	0
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss, before tax	0	0	0
Noncontrolling Interests - Foreign currency translation
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	(2,199)	(1,602)	(469)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	(1,417)	(597)	(1,133)
Balance at end of period	$ (3,616)	$ (2,199)	$ (1,602)