Reportable Segments (Schedule of Disaggregate Revenue for Each Business Segment) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 211,999	$ 271,133	$ 673,753	$ 796,454
Machine Clothing [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	138,747	151,324	428,782	450,673
Albany Engineered Composites [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	73,252	119,809	244,971	345,781
Albany Engineered Composites [Member] | Albany Engineered Composites ASC [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	17,301	56,414	72,771	170,551
Albany Engineered Composites [Member] | Albany Engineered Composites Other AEC [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	55,951	63,395	172,200	175,230
Transferred at Point in Time [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	142,378	157,232	441,180	471,123
Transferred at Point in Time [Member] | Machine Clothing [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	137,899	150,524	426,238	448,273
Transferred at Point in Time [Member] | Albany Engineered Composites [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	4,479	6,708	14,942	22,850
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	4,479	6,708	14,942	22,850
Transferred over Time [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	69,621	113,901	232,573	325,331
Transferred over Time [Member] | Machine Clothing [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	848	800	2,544	2,400
Transferred over Time [Member] | Albany Engineered Composites [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	68,773	113,101	230,029	322,931
Transferred over Time [Member] | Albany Engineered Composites [Member] | Albany Engineered Composites ASC [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	17,301	56,414	72,771	170,551
Transferred over Time [Member] | Albany Engineered Composites [Member] | Albany Engineered Composites Other AEC [Member]
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 51,472	$ 56,687	$ 157,258	$ 152,380