Debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Astec Brazil's loans [Abstract]
Current maturities of long-term debt	$ 4,528	$ 1,027
Wells Fargo [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Term of credit facility	5 years
Contingent liabilities for letters of credit issued on behalf of foreign subsidiaries	$ 17,684
Line of credit, additional borrowing capacity	82,316
Loan amount	$ 0
Interest rate description	daily one-month LIBOR rate plus a 0.75% margin
Interest rate at period end	1.18%
Wells Fargo [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Amount of credit facility	$ 100,000
Sub-limit for letters of credit	$ 25,000
Wells Fargo [Member] | LIBOR [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Additional rate over base, percentage	0.75%
Unused facility fee as a percentage of line of credit	0.175%
Equipment Financing Loans [Member] | Astec Brazil [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Loan amount	$ 1,401
Osborn [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Amount of credit facility	$ 6,123
Unused facility fee as a percentage of line of credit	0.75%
Performance bank guarantee, subsidiary obligations to fulfill contracts	$ 686
Under utilized facility resulting in unused facility fee	50.00%
Available credit under the facility	$ 5,437
Interest rate at period end	9.50%
Osborn [Member] | South American Prime Rate [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Basis Spread on Variable Rate	(0.25%)
Astec Brazil [Member] | Equipment Financing Loans [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maturity date	Sep. 30, 2018
Astec Brazil [Member] | Equipment Financing Loans [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maturity date	Apr. 30, 2020
Astec Brazil Working Capital Loans [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Borrowing outstanding	$ 8,281
Astec Brazil's loans [Abstract]
2016	4,528
2017	2,556
2018	1,326
2019	346
2020	215
Thereafter	$ 711
Astec Brazil Working Capital Loans [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maturity date	Dec. 31, 2016
Interest rate at period end	10.40%
Astec Brazil Working Capital Loans [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maturity date	Apr. 30, 2024
Interest rate at period end	20.80%
Astec Brazil Working Capital Loans [Member] | Wells Fargo [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Maturity date	Apr. 30, 2017
Astec Brazil Working Capital Loans [Member] | Aztec Wells Fargo partially guarantee [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Contingent liabilities for letters of credit issued on behalf of foreign subsidiaries	$ 8,674
Astec Brazil Equipment Financing [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]
Term of credit facility	5 years
Minimum interest rate	3.50%
Maximum interest rate	16.30%
Astec Brazil Working Capital Loans and Equipment Financing [Member]
Astec Brazil's loans [Abstract]
Current maturities of long-term debt	$ 4,528
Long-term debt, current and non-current maturities	$ 5,154