Noncontrolling Interest (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Net income of Albany Safran Composites (ASC)	$ 28,484	$ 15,220	$ 69,272	$ 27,427
Net income of ASC available for common ownership	28,215	15,269	68,825	27,225
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	269	(49)	447	202
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Roll Forward]
Noncontrolling interest, beginning of year			3,247
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	269	$ (49)	447	202
Noncontrolling interest	$ 3,366		3,366		$ 3,247
Albany Safran Composites, LLC [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Net income of Albany Safran Composites (ASC)			5,433	2,805
Less: Return attributable to the Company's preferred holding			965	782
Net income of ASC available for common ownership			$ 4,468	$ 2,023
Ownership percentage of noncontrolling shareholder	10.00%	10.00%	10.00%	10.00%
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest			$ 447	$ 202
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Roll Forward]
Noncontrolling interest, beginning of year			3,247	3,767	3,767
Decrease attributable to application of ASC 606			(327)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest			447	202
Changes in other comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest			(1)	19
Noncontrolling interest	$ 3,366	$ 3,988	$ 3,366	$ 3,988	$ 3,247

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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