Noncontrolling Interest (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended							1 Months Ended	2 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2013 Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Oct. 31, 2013 Albany Safran Composites, LLC [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Albany Safran Composites, LLC [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Albany Safran Composites, LLC [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Interest in subsidiary sold								10.00%
Cash contribution								$ 28,000,000
Sale of Noncontrolling interest in ASC, net of tax				15,535,000
Albany's remaining interest								90.00%
Net income	17,658,000	30,977,000	34,938,000							1,569,000
Less: Return attributable to the Company's preferred holding										164,000
Net income of ASC available for common ownership	17,517,000	30,977,000	34,938,000							1,405,000
Ownership percentage of noncontrolling shareholder									10.00%	10.00%
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest	141,000								141,000	141,000
Ownership interest in ASC									90.00%	90.00%
ASC Net assets contributed by Albany	547,779,000	493,511,000		416,728,000	395,381,000	391,495,000	387,876,000		33,414,000	33,414,000
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Roll Forward]
Noncontrolling interest at time of investment									3,341,000
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest	141,000								141,000	141,000
Changes in other comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest
Noncontrolling interest as of December 31, 2013	$ 3,482,000							$ 3,341,000	$ 3,482,000	$ 3,482,000