Borrowings (Debt Schedule) (Details) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012 USD ($)		Dec. 31, 2011 USD ($)		Sep. 30, 2012 Notes Payable [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Notes Payable [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 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]	Sep. 30, 2012 Subsidiaries, Libbey Glass and Libbey Europe [Member] ABL Facility [Member] Line of Credit [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Subsidiaries, Libbey Glass and Libbey Europe [Member] ABL Facility [Member] Line of Credit [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2012 Subsidiary, Libbey Glass [Member] New Senior Secured Notes [Member] Senior Notes [Member] USD ($)		Dec. 31, 2011 Subsidiary, Libbey Glass [Member] New Senior Secured Notes [Member] Senior Notes [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2012 Subsidiary, Libbey Glass [Member] Old Senior Secured Notes [Member] Senior Notes [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 29, 2012 Subsidiary, Libbey Glass [Member] Old Senior Secured Notes [Member] Senior Notes [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Subsidiary, Libbey Glass [Member] Old Senior Secured Notes [Member] Senior Notes [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2012 Subsidiary, Libbey China [Member] RMB Loan Contract [Member] Construction Loans [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2012 Subsidiary, Libbey China [Member] RMB Loan Contract [Member] Construction Loans [Member] CNY	Dec. 31, 2011 Subsidiary, Libbey China [Member] RMB Loan Contract [Member] Construction Loans [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2012 Subsidiary, Libbey Portugal [Member] BES Euro Line [Member] Line of Credit [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2012 Subsidiary, Libbey Portugal [Member] BES Euro Line [Member] Line of Credit [Member] EUR (€)	Dec. 31, 2011 Subsidiary, Libbey Portugal [Member] BES Euro Line [Member] Line of Credit [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2012 Subsidiary, Libbey Portugal [Member] AICEP Loan [Member] Loans Payable [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Subsidiary, Libbey Portugal [Member] AICEP Loan [Member] Loans Payable [Member] USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate							6.00%		6.00%			6.875%	[1]			10.00%								0.00%
Total borrowings	$ 469,472		$ 397,617		$ 0	$ 339	$ 956	$ 1,111		$ 0	$ 0	$ 450,000		$ 0	$ 0		$ 360,000	$ 9,498	60,000	$ 28,332	$ 7,780	€ 6,100	$ 7,835	$ 1,238	$ 0
Less -- unamortized discount	0		4,300
Plus -- carrying value adjustment on debt related to the Interest Rate Agreement (1)	1,205	[1]	4,043	[1]
Total borrowings -- net	470,677		397,360
Less -- long-term debt due within one year	3,819		4,192
Total long-term portion of borrowings -- net	$ 466,858		$ 393,168

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