Noncontrolling Interest (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Net (loss)/income of Albany Safran Composites (ASC)	$ 13,409	$ 9,680	$ 36,826	$ 19,799
Net (loss)/income of ASC available for common ownership	13,069	9,658	36,937	19,699
Net (loss)/income attributable to noncontrolling interest	340	22	(111)	100
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Roll Forward]
Noncontrolling interest, beginning of year			3,690
Net (loss)/income attributable to noncontrolling interest	340	$ 22	(111)	100
Noncontrolling interest	$ 3,578		3,578
Albany Safran Composites, LLC [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Net (loss)/income of Albany Safran Composites (ASC)			(374)	1,747
Less: Return attributable to the Company's preferred holding			732	748
Net (loss)/income of ASC available for common ownership			$ (1,106)	$ 999
Ownership percentage of noncontrolling shareholder	10.00%	10.00%	10.00%	10.00%
Net (loss)/income attributable to noncontrolling interest			$ (111)	$ 100
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Roll Forward]
Noncontrolling interest, beginning of year			3,690	3,699
Net (loss)/income attributable to noncontrolling interest			(111)	100
Changes in other comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest			(1)	1
Noncontrolling interest	$ 3,578	$ 3,800	$ 3,578	$ 3,800