Reportable Segments (Schedule of Disaggregate Revenue for Each Business Segment) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 225,990	$ 273,949	$ 461,754	$ 525,321
Machine Clothing [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	153,433	155,016	290,035	299,349
Albany Engineered Composites [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	72,557	118,933	171,719	225,972
Albany Engineered Composites [Member] | Albany Engineered Composites ASC [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	17,576	58,694	55,470	114,137
Albany Engineered Composites [Member] | Albany Engineered Composites Other AEC [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	54,981	60,239	116,249	111,835
Transferred at Point in Time [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	156,728	164,113	298,802	313,891
Transferred at Point in Time [Member] | Machine Clothing [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	152,585	154,216	288,339	297,749
Transferred at Point in Time [Member] | Albany Engineered Composites [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	4,143	9,897	10,463	16,142
Transferred at Point in Time [Member] | Albany Engineered Composites [Member] | Albany Engineered Composites ASC [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	0	0	0	0
Transferred at Point in Time [Member] | Albany Engineered Composites [Member] | Albany Engineered Composites Other AEC [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	4,143	9,897	10,463	16,142
Transferred over Time [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	69,262	109,836	162,952	211,430
Transferred over Time [Member] | Machine Clothing [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	848	800	1,696	1,600
Transferred over Time [Member] | Albany Engineered Composites [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	68,414	109,036	161,256	209,830
Transferred over Time [Member] | Albany Engineered Composites [Member] | Albany Engineered Composites ASC [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	17,576	58,694	55,470	114,137
Transferred over Time [Member] | Albany Engineered Composites [Member] | Albany Engineered Composites Other AEC [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 50,838	$ 50,342	$ 105,786	$ 95,693