Basis of Presentation	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	Basis of PresentationThe condensed consolidated financial statements of MSA Safety Incorporated and its subsidiaries ("MSA" or the "Company") are unaudited. These condensed consolidated financial statements include all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, considered necessary by management to fairly state the Company's results. Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. The results reported in these condensed consolidated financial statements are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the entire year. The December 31, 2019, Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet data was derived from the audited Consolidated Balance Sheet, but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP). This Form 10-Q report should be read in conjunction with MSA's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, which includes all disclosures required by U.S. GAAP.