Condensed Consolidated Guarantor Financial Statements (Balance Sheets) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Consolidating Guarantor Non-Guarantor Financials [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 19,577	$ 32,818	$ 58,291	$ 44,309	$ 13,112	$ 76,258
Accounts receivable - net	87,650		88,045
Inventories - net	167,037		145,859
Other current assets	7,246		9,701
Total current assets	281,510		301,896
Other non-current assets	44,842		35,765
Investments in and advances to subsidiaries	0		0
Goodwill and purchased intangible assets - net	187,117		187,772
Total other assets	231,959		223,537
Property, plant and equipment - net	254,680		264,718
Total assets	768,149		790,151
Accounts payable	54,065		58,759
Accrued and other current liabilities	93,359		106,202
Notes payable and long-term debt due within one year	3,737		4,192
Total current liabilities	151,161		169,153
Long-term debt	473,858		393,168
Other long-term liabilities	119,148		200,050
Total liabilities	744,167		762,371
Total shareholders' equity (deficit)	23,982		27,780
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	768,149		790,151
Libbey Inc. (Parent) [Member]
Consolidating Guarantor Non-Guarantor Financials [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0	0	0	0
Accounts receivable - net	0		0
Inventories - net	0		0
Other current assets	0		0
Total current assets	0		0
Other non-current assets	0		0
Investments in and advances to subsidiaries	23,982		27,780
Goodwill and purchased intangible assets - net	0		0
Total other assets	23,982		27,780
Property, plant and equipment - net	0		0
Total assets	23,982		27,780
Accounts payable	0		0
Accrued and other current liabilities	0		0
Notes payable and long-term debt due within one year	0		0
Total current liabilities	0		0
Long-term debt	0		0
Other long-term liabilities	0		0
Total liabilities	0		0
Total shareholders' equity (deficit)	23,982		27,780
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	23,982		27,780
Libbey Glass (Issuer) [Member]
Consolidating Guarantor Non-Guarantor Financials [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	(211)	9,892	39,249	25,772	(229)	58,277
Accounts receivable - net	38,267		39,707
Inventories - net	59,858		48,077
Other current assets	11,676		16,913
Total current assets	109,590		143,946
Other non-current assets	25,751		25,138
Investments in and advances to subsidiaries	350,559		336,596
Goodwill and purchased intangible assets - net	26,833		26,833
Total other assets	403,143		388,567
Property, plant and equipment - net	73,204		75,951
Total assets	585,937		608,464
Accounts payable	11,573		14,290
Accrued and other current liabilities	54,325		67,665
Notes payable and long-term debt due within one year	215		227
Total current liabilities	66,113		82,182
Long-term debt	450,750		360,626
Other long-term liabilities	78,407		156,232
Total liabilities	595,270		599,040
Total shareholders' equity (deficit)	(9,333)		9,424
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	585,937		608,464
Subsidiary Guarantors [Member]
Consolidating Guarantor Non-Guarantor Financials [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	66	157	155	367	187	293
Accounts receivable - net	5,033		3,223
Inventories - net	17,227		17,009
Other current assets	132		747
Total current assets	22,458		21,134
Other non-current assets	433		8
Investments in and advances to subsidiaries	212,051		210,876
Goodwill and purchased intangible assets - net	12,347		12,347
Total other assets	224,831		223,231
Property, plant and equipment - net	330		416
Total assets	247,619		244,781
Accounts payable	3,141		1,840
Accrued and other current liabilities	18,345		20,860
Notes payable and long-term debt due within one year	0		0
Total current liabilities	21,486		22,700
Long-term debt	0		0
Other long-term liabilities	6,476		17,156
Total liabilities	27,962		39,856
Total shareholders' equity (deficit)	219,657		204,925
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	247,619		244,781
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Consolidating Guarantor Non-Guarantor Financials [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	19,722	22,769	18,887	18,170	13,154	17,688
Accounts receivable - net	44,350		45,115
Inventories - net	89,952		80,773
Other current assets	9,476		7,432
Total current assets	163,500		152,207
Other non-current assets	25,645		18,380
Investments in and advances to subsidiaries	(18,409)		(10,116)
Goodwill and purchased intangible assets - net	147,937		148,592
Total other assets	155,173		156,856
Property, plant and equipment - net	181,146		188,351
Total assets	499,819		497,414
Accounts payable	39,351		42,629
Accrued and other current liabilities	32,190		33,068
Notes payable and long-term debt due within one year	3,522		3,965
Total current liabilities	75,063		79,662
Long-term debt	23,108		32,542
Other long-term liabilities	43,789		34,423
Total liabilities	141,960		146,627
Total shareholders' equity (deficit)	357,859		350,787
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	499,819		497,414
Eliminations [Member]
Consolidating Guarantor Non-Guarantor Financials [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0	0	0	0
Accounts receivable - net	0		0
Inventories - net	0		0
Other current assets	(14,038)		(15,391)
Total current assets	(14,038)		(15,391)
Other non-current assets	(6,987)		(7,761)
Investments in and advances to subsidiaries	(568,183)		(565,136)
Goodwill and purchased intangible assets - net	0		0
Total other assets	(575,170)		(572,897)
Property, plant and equipment - net	0		0
Total assets	(589,208)		(588,288)
Accounts payable	0		0
Accrued and other current liabilities	(11,501)		(15,391)
Notes payable and long-term debt due within one year	0		0
Total current liabilities	(11,501)		(15,391)
Long-term debt	0		0
Other long-term liabilities	(9,524)		(7,761)
Total liabilities	(21,025)		(23,152)
Total shareholders' equity (deficit)	(568,183)		(565,136)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ (589,208)		$ (588,288)