Borrowings (Refinancing of Existing Indebtedness Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012 Subsidiary, Libbey Glass [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Subsidiary, Libbey Glass [Member] Senior Notes [Member] New Senior Secured Notes [Member]		May 18, 2012 Subsidiary, Libbey Glass [Member] Senior Notes [Member] New Senior Secured Notes [Member]	Jun. 29, 2012 Subsidiary, Libbey Glass [Member] Senior Notes [Member] Old Senior Secured Notes [Member]	May 18, 2012 Subsidiary, Libbey Glass [Member] Senior Notes [Member] Old Senior Secured Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount								$ 450,000,000
Interest rate						6.875%	[1]		10.00%
Notes redeemed, face amount									40,000,000
Notes repurchased, face amount										320,000,000
Call premium on 10% senior notes	23,602,000	0	23,602,000	1,203,000	23,602,000
Write-off of finance fees & discounts on senior notes and ABL	$ 10,975,000	$ 0	$ 10,975,000	$ 1,600,000	$ 10,975,000

[1] See Interest Rate Agreements under “New Senior Secured Notes” below and in note 9.