Segment Information - Summary of Company's Reportable Segments (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018
Net sales
Net sales	$ 119,217	$ 108,413	$ 331,212	$ 315,467
Income taxes
Income taxes	3,213	(1,198)	6,302	3,390
Net income attributable to Preformed Line Products Company shareholders
Net income	7,951	9,054	17,679	21,318
Assets
Identifiable assets	425,004		425,004		$ 358,797
PLP-USA [Member]
Net sales
Net sales	47,617	46,189	135,411	128,296
Income taxes
Income taxes	1,333	(1,968)	2,585	(743)
Net income attributable to Preformed Line Products Company shareholders
Net income	3,246	6,200	7,442	9,759
Assets
Identifiable assets	132,197		132,197		118,171
The Americas [Member]
Net sales
Net sales	19,663	14,662	51,142	52,217
Income taxes
Income taxes	901	213	1,948	2,581
Net income attributable to Preformed Line Products Company shareholders
Net income	2,565	811	5,188	6,611
Assets
Identifiable assets	73,453		73,453		69,764
EMEA [Member]
Net sales
Net sales	21,132	18,273	59,376	54,756
Income taxes
Income taxes	496	230	574	889
Net income attributable to Preformed Line Products Company shareholders
Net income	853	805	2,171	2,729
Assets
Identifiable assets	92,667		92,667		57,263
Asia-Pacific [Member]
Net sales
Net sales	30,805	29,289	85,283	80,198
Income taxes
Income taxes	483	327	1,195	663
Net income attributable to Preformed Line Products Company shareholders
Net income	1,287	1,238	2,878	2,219
Assets
Identifiable assets	126,687		126,687		$ 113,599
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Net sales
Net sales	(9,496)	(11,403)	(25,370)	(26,531)
Intersegment Eliminations [Member] | PLP-USA [Member]
Net sales
Net sales	(3,440)	(4,862)	(7,868)	(9,296)
Intersegment Eliminations [Member] | The Americas [Member]
Net sales
Net sales	(2,149)	(2,622)	(5,905)	(7,204)
Intersegment Eliminations [Member] | EMEA [Member]
Net sales
Net sales	(335)	(510)	(898)	(1,350)
Intersegment Eliminations [Member] | Asia-Pacific [Member]
Net sales
Net sales	$ (3,572)	$ (3,409)	$ (10,699)	$ (8,681)