Borrowings (Debt Schedule) (Details) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2012 USD ($)		Dec. 31, 2011 USD ($)		Jun. 30, 2012 Notes Payable [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Notes Payable [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2012 Warehouse Promissory Note [Member] Promissory Note [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Warehouse Promissory Note [Member] Promissory Note [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2001 Warehouse Promissory Note [Member] Promissory Note [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 BES Euro Line [Member] Line of Credit [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2012 BES Euro Line [Member] Line of Credit [Member] EUR (€)	Dec. 31, 2011 BES Euro Line [Member] Line of Credit [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2012 Subsidiaries, Libbey Glass and Libbey Europe [Member] ABL Facility [Member] Line of Credit [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Subsidiaries, Libbey Glass and Libbey Europe [Member] ABL Facility [Member] Line of Credit [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2012 Subsidiary, Libbey Glass [Member] New Senior Secured Notes [Member] Senior Notes [Member] USD ($)		Dec. 31, 2011 Subsidiary, Libbey Glass [Member] New Senior Secured Notes [Member] Senior Notes [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2012 Subsidiary, Libbey Glass [Member] Old Senior Secured Notes [Member] Senior Notes [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 29, 2012 Subsidiary, Libbey Glass [Member] Old Senior Secured Notes [Member] Senior Notes [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Subsidiary, Libbey Glass [Member] Old Senior Secured Notes [Member] Senior Notes [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2012 Subsidiary, Libbey China [Member] RMB Loan Contract [Member] Construction Loans [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2012 Subsidiary, Libbey China [Member] RMB Loan Contract [Member] Construction Loans [Member] CNY	Dec. 31, 2011 Subsidiary, Libbey China [Member] RMB Loan Contract [Member] Construction Loans [Member] USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate							6.00%		6.00%						6.875%	[1]			10.00%
Total borrowings	$ 477,638		$ 397,617		$ 0	$ 339	$ 1,008	$ 1,111		$ 7,610	€ 6,100	$ 7,835	$ 0	$ 0	$ 450,000		$ 0	$ 0		$ 360,000	$ 19,020	120,000	$ 28,332
Less -- unamortized discount	0		4,300
Plus -- carrying value adjustment on debt related to the Interest Rate Agreement (1)	(43)	[1]	4,043	[1]
Total borrowings -- net	477,595		397,360
Less -- long-term debt due within one year	3,737		4,192
Total long-term portion of borrowings -- net	$ 473,858		$ 393,168

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