Noncontrolling Interest (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Net income/(loss) of Albany Safran Composites, LLC ("ASC")	$ 15,220	$ 13,409	$ 27,427	$ 36,826
Net income/(loss) of ASC available for common ownership	15,269	13,069	27,225	36,937
Net income/(loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(49)	340	202	(111)
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Roll Forward]
Noncontrolling interest, beginning of year			3,767
Net income/(loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(49)	$ 340	202	(111)
Noncontrolling interest	$ 3,988		3,988
Albany Safran Composites, LLC [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Net income/(loss) of Albany Safran Composites, LLC ("ASC")			2,805	(374)
Less: Return attributable to the Company's preferred holding			782	732
Net income/(loss) of ASC available for common ownership			$ 2,023	$ (1,106)
Ownership percentage of noncontrolling shareholder	10.00%	10.00%	10.00%	10.00%
Net income/(loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest			$ 202	$ (111)
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Roll Forward]
Noncontrolling interest, beginning of year			3,767	3,690
Net income/(loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest			202	(111)
Changes in other comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest			19	(1)
Noncontrolling interest	$ 3,988	$ 3,578	$ 3,988	$ 3,578

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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