Noncontrolling Interest (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Net income/(loss) of ASC	$ 1,233	$ 10,101	$ 12,207	$ 23,417
Net income/(loss) of ASC available for common ownership	1,117	10,367	11,956	23,868
Net income/(loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	116	(266)	251	(451)
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Roll Forward]
Noncontrolling interest, beginning of year			3,767
Net (loss)/income attributable to noncontrolling interest	116	$ (266)	251	(451)
Noncontrolling interest	$ 4,031		4,031
Albany Safran Composites, LLC [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Net income/(loss) of ASC			3,029	(4,033)
Less: Return attributable to the Company's preferred holding			515	480
Net income/(loss) of ASC available for common ownership			$ 2,514	$ (4,513)
Ownership percentage of noncontrolling shareholder	10.00%	10.00%	10.00%	10.00%
Net income/(loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest			$ 251	$ (451)
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Roll Forward]
Noncontrolling interest, beginning of year			3,767	3,690
Net (loss)/income attributable to noncontrolling interest			251	(451)
Changes in other comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest			13	(1)
Noncontrolling interest	$ 4,031	$ 3,238	$ 4,031	$ 3,238

Total of all stockholders' equity (deficit) items, net of receivables from officers, directors, owners, and affiliates of the entity which is directly or indirectly attributable to that ownership interest in subsidiary equity which is not attributable to the parent (that is, noncontrolling interest, previously referred to as minority interest).

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