Condensed Consolidated Guarantor Financial Statements (Cash Flow Statements) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Consolidating Guarantor Non-Guarantor Financials [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	$ (10,143)	$ 15,406	$ (9,502)	$ 14,405
Depreciation and amortization	10,288	11,027	20,824	21,908
Other operating activities	(52,566)	3,481	(82,841)	(29,479)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(52,421)	29,914	(71,519)	6,834
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(5,386)	(9,892)	(11,832)	(18,398)
Other investing activities	239	13,439	419	18,041
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(5,147)	3,547	(11,413)	(357)
Net borrowings (repayments)	80,432	(2,294)	80,038	(37,992)
Other financing activities	(35,744)	(324)	(35,716)	(1,168)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	44,688	(2,618)	44,322	(39,160)
Exchange effect on cash	(361)	354	(104)	734
(Decrease) increase in cash	(13,241)	31,197	(38,714)	(31,949)
Cash at beginning of period	32,818	13,112	58,291	76,258
Cash at end of period	19,577	44,309	19,577	44,309
Libbey Inc. (Parent) [Member]
Consolidating Guarantor Non-Guarantor Financials [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	(10,143)	15,406	(9,502)	14,405
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0	0
Other operating activities	10,143	(15,406)	9,502	(14,405)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	0	0	0	0
Additions to property, plant and equipment	0	0	0	0
Other investing activities	0	0	0	0
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	0	0	0	0
Net borrowings (repayments)	0	0	0	0
Other financing activities	0	0	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	0	0	0	0
Exchange effect on cash	0	0	0	0
(Decrease) increase in cash	0	0	0	0
Cash at beginning of period	0	0	0	0
Cash at end of period	0	0	0	0
Libbey Glass (Issuer) [Member]
Consolidating Guarantor Non-Guarantor Financials [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	(10,143)	15,406	(9,502)	14,405
Depreciation and amortization	3,469	3,767	7,007	7,575
Other operating activities	(56,501)	13,791	(86,833)	(9,168)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(63,175)	32,964	(89,328)	12,812
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(1,133)	(2,273)	(4,314)	(4,085)
Other investing activities	0	33	0	33
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(1,133)	(2,240)	(4,314)	(4,052)
Net borrowings (repayments)	89,949	(4,399)	89,898	(40,097)
Other financing activities	(35,744)	(324)	(35,716)	(1,168)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	54,205	(4,723)	54,182	(41,265)
Exchange effect on cash	0	0	0	0
(Decrease) increase in cash	(10,103)	26,001	(39,460)	(32,505)
Cash at beginning of period	9,892	(229)	39,249	58,277
Cash at end of period	(211)	25,772	(211)	25,772
Subsidiary Guarantors [Member]
Consolidating Guarantor Non-Guarantor Financials [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	3,578	7,033	6,689	9,742
Depreciation and amortization	18	61	37	259
Other operating activities	(3,687)	(19,756)	(6,815)	(23,266)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(91)	(12,662)	(89)	(13,265)
Additions to property, plant and equipment	0	0	0	(3)
Other investing activities	0	12,842	0	13,342
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	0	12,842	0	13,339
Net borrowings (repayments)	0	0	0	0
Other financing activities	0	0	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	0	0	0	0
Exchange effect on cash	0	0	0	0
(Decrease) increase in cash	(91)	180	(89)	74
Cash at beginning of period	157	187	155	293
Cash at end of period	66	367	66	367
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Consolidating Guarantor Non-Guarantor Financials [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	5,821	7,329	10,079	12,428
Depreciation and amortization	6,801	7,199	13,780	14,074
Other operating activities	(1,777)	(4,916)	(5,961)	(19,215)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	10,845	9,612	17,898	7,287
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(4,253)	(7,619)	(7,518)	(14,310)
Other investing activities	239	564	419	4,666
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(4,014)	(7,055)	(7,099)	(9,644)
Net borrowings (repayments)	(9,517)	2,105	(9,860)	2,105
Other financing activities	0	0	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(9,517)	2,105	(9,860)	2,105
Exchange effect on cash	(361)	354	(104)	734
(Decrease) increase in cash	(3,047)	5,016	835	482
Cash at beginning of period	22,769	13,154	18,887	17,688
Cash at end of period	19,722	18,170	19,722	18,170
Eliminations [Member]
Consolidating Guarantor Non-Guarantor Financials [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	744	(29,768)	(7,266)	(36,575)
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0	0
Other operating activities	(744)	29,768	7,266	36,575
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	0	0	0	0
Additions to property, plant and equipment	0	0	0	0
Other investing activities	0	0	0	0
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	0	0	0	0
Net borrowings (repayments)	0	0	0	0
Other financing activities	0	0	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	0	0	0	0
Exchange effect on cash	0	0	0	0
(Decrease) increase in cash	0	0	0	0
Cash at beginning of period	0	0	0	0
Cash at end of period	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0