Condensed Consolidated Guarantor Financial Statements (Balance Sheets) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Consolidating Guarantor Non-Guarantor Financials [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 33,347	$ 19,577	$ 58,291	$ 24,583	$ 44,309	$ 76,258
Accounts receivable - net	93,962		88,045
Inventories - net	170,814		145,859
Other current assets	8,202		9,701
Total current assets	306,325		301,896
Other non-current assets	45,439		35,765
Investments in and advances to subsidiaries	0		0
Goodwill and purchased intangible assets - net	186,944		187,772
Total other assets	232,383		223,537
Property, plant and equipment - net	251,518		264,718
Total assets	790,226		790,151
Accounts payable	46,650		58,759
Accrued and other current liabilities	108,974		106,202
Notes payable and long-term debt due within one year	3,819		4,192
Total current liabilities	159,443		169,153
Long-term debt	466,858		393,168
Other long-term liabilities	117,779		200,050
Total liabilities	744,080		762,371
Total shareholders' equity (deficit)	46,146		27,780
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	790,226		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	46,146		27,780
Goodwill and purchased intangible assets - net	0		0
Total other assets	46,146		27,780
Property, plant and equipment - net	0		0
Total assets	46,146		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)	46,146		27,780
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	46,146		27,780
Libbey Glass (Issuer) [Member]
Consolidating Guarantor Non-Guarantor Financials [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	15,794	(211)	39,249	2,182	25,772	58,277
Accounts receivable - net	42,897		39,707
Inventories - net	63,330		48,077
Other current assets	14,506		16,913
Total current assets	136,527		143,946
Other non-current assets	25,194		25,138
Investments in and advances to subsidiaries	356,262		336,596
Goodwill and purchased intangible assets - net	26,833		26,833
Total other assets	408,289		388,567
Property, plant and equipment - net	71,525		75,951
Total assets	616,341		608,464
Accounts payable	9,909		14,290
Accrued and other current liabilities	66,679		67,665
Notes payable and long-term debt due within one year	218		227
Total current liabilities	76,806		82,182
Long-term debt	451,942		360,626
Other long-term liabilities	77,465		156,232
Total liabilities	606,213		599,040
Total shareholders' equity (deficit)	10,128		9,424
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	616,341		608,464
Subsidiary Guarantors [Member]
Consolidating Guarantor Non-Guarantor Financials [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	154	66	155	357	367	293
Accounts receivable - net	5,215		3,223
Inventories - net	17,730		17,009
Other current assets	236		747
Total current assets	23,335		21,134
Other non-current assets	673		8
Investments in and advances to subsidiaries	214,027		210,876
Goodwill and purchased intangible assets - net	12,347		12,347
Total other assets	227,047		223,231
Property, plant and equipment - net	313		416
Total assets	250,695		244,781
Accounts payable	1,962		1,840
Accrued and other current liabilities	18,260		20,860
Notes payable and long-term debt due within one year	0		0
Total current liabilities	20,222		22,700
Long-term debt	0		0
Other long-term liabilities	6,310		17,156
Total liabilities	26,532		39,856
Total shareholders' equity (deficit)	224,163		204,925
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	250,695		244,781
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Consolidating Guarantor Non-Guarantor Financials [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	17,399	19,722	18,887	22,044	18,170	17,688
Accounts receivable - net	45,850		45,115
Inventories - net	89,754		80,773
Other current assets	12,166		7,432
Total current assets	165,169		152,207
Other non-current assets	27,651		18,380
Investments in and advances to subsidiaries	(14,058)		(10,116)
Goodwill and purchased intangible assets - net	147,764		148,592
Total other assets	161,357		156,856
Property, plant and equipment - net	179,680		188,351
Total assets	506,206		497,414
Accounts payable	34,779		42,629
Accrued and other current liabilities	40,703		33,068
Notes payable and long-term debt due within one year	3,601		3,965
Total current liabilities	79,083		79,662
Long-term debt	14,916		32,542
Other long-term liabilities	44,121		34,423
Total liabilities	138,120		146,627
Total shareholders' equity (deficit)	368,086		350,787
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	506,206		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	(18,706)		(15,391)
Total current assets	(18,706)		(15,391)
Other non-current assets	(8,079)		(7,761)
Investments in and advances to subsidiaries	(602,377)		(565,136)
Goodwill and purchased intangible assets - net	0		0
Total other assets	(610,456)		(572,897)
Property, plant and equipment - net	0		0
Total assets	(629,162)		(588,288)
Accounts payable	0		0
Accrued and other current liabilities	(16,668)		(15,391)
Notes payable and long-term debt due within one year	0		0
Total current liabilities	(16,668)		(15,391)
Long-term debt	0		0
Other long-term liabilities	(10,117)		(7,761)
Total liabilities	(26,785)		(23,152)
Total shareholders' equity (deficit)	(602,377)		(565,136)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ (629,162)		$ (588,288)