Noncontrolling Interest (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Net (loss)/income of Albany Safran Composites (ASC)	$ 10,101	$ (2,120)	$ 23,417	$ 10,119
Net (loss)/income of ASC available for common ownership	10,367	(2,172)	23,868	10,041
Net (loss)/income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(266)	52	(451)	78
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Roll Forward]
Noncontrolling interest, beginning of year			3,690
Net (loss)/income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(266)	$ 52	(451)	78
Noncontrolling interest	$ 3,238		3,238
Albany Safran Composites, LLC [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Net (loss)/income of Albany Safran Composites (ASC)			(4,033)	1,282
Less: Return attributable to the Company's preferred holding			480	507
Net (loss)/income of ASC available for common ownership			(4,513)	775
Net (loss)/income attributable to noncontrolling interest			$ (451)	$ 78
Ownership interest in ASC	10.00%	10.00%	10.00%	10.00%
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Roll Forward]
Noncontrolling interest, beginning of year			$ 3,690	$ 3,699
Net (loss)/income attributable to noncontrolling interest			(451)	78
Changes in other comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest			(1)	1
Noncontrolling interest	$ 3,238	$ 3,778	$ 3,238	$ 3,778