Condensed Consolidated Guarantor Financial Statements (Cash Flow Statements) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Consolidating Guarantor Non-Guarantor Financials [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	$ 14,861	$ 7,127	$ 5,359	$ 21,532
Depreciation and amortization	10,073	10,357	30,897	32,265
Other operating activities	2,955	(22,174)	(79,886)	(51,653)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	27,889	(4,690)	(43,630)	2,144
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(5,412)	(8,059)	(17,244)	(26,457)
Other investing activities	131	223	550	18,264
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(5,281)	(7,836)	(16,694)	(8,193)
Net borrowings (repayments)	(8,317)	(6,778)	71,721	(44,770)
Other financing activities	(627)	(19)	(36,343)	(1,187)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(8,944)	(6,797)	35,378	(45,957)
Exchange effect on cash	106	(403)	2	331
Increase (decrease) in cash	13,770	(19,726)	(24,944)	(51,675)
Cash at beginning of period	19,577	44,309	58,291	76,258
Cash at end of period	33,347	24,583	33,347	24,583
Libbey Inc. (Parent) [Member]
Consolidating Guarantor Non-Guarantor Financials [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	14,861	7,127	5,359	21,532
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0	0
Other operating activities	(14,861)	(7,127)	(5,359)	(21,532)
Net cash provided by (used in) 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 provided by (used in) 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
Increase (decrease) 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)	14,861	7,127	5,359	21,532
Depreciation and amortization	3,143	3,119	10,150	10,694
Other operating activities	159	(28,646)	(86,674)	(37,814)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	18,163	(18,400)	(71,165)	(5,588)
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(1,478)	(5,122)	(5,792)	(9,207)
Other investing activities	0	0	0	33
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(1,478)	(5,122)	(5,792)	(9,174)
Net borrowings (repayments)	(53)	(49)	89,845	(40,146)
Other financing activities	(627)	(19)	(36,343)	(1,187)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(680)	(68)	53,502	(41,333)
Exchange effect on cash	0	0	0	0
Increase (decrease) in cash	16,005	(23,590)	(23,455)	(56,095)
Cash at beginning of period	(211)	25,772	39,249	58,277
Cash at end of period	15,794	2,182	15,794	2,182
Subsidiary Guarantors [Member]
Consolidating Guarantor Non-Guarantor Financials [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	4,399	2,979	11,088	12,721
Depreciation and amortization	17	19	54	278
Other operating activities	(4,328)	(3,139)	(11,143)	(26,405)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	88	(141)	(1)	(13,406)
Additions to property, plant and equipment	0	(27)	0	(30)
Other investing activities	0	158	0	13,500
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	0	131	0	13,470
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
Increase (decrease) in cash	88	(10)	(1)	64
Cash at beginning of period	66	367	155	293
Cash at end of period	154	357	154	357
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Consolidating Guarantor Non-Guarantor Financials [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	7,631	7,334	17,710	19,762
Depreciation and amortization	6,913	7,219	20,693	21,293
Other operating activities	(4,906)	(702)	(10,867)	(19,917)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	9,638	13,851	27,536	21,138
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(3,934)	(2,910)	(11,452)	(17,220)
Other investing activities	131	65	550	4,731
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(3,803)	(2,845)	(10,902)	(12,489)
Net borrowings (repayments)	(8,264)	(6,729)	(18,124)	(4,624)
Other financing activities	0	0	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(8,264)	(6,729)	(18,124)	(4,624)
Exchange effect on cash	106	(403)	2	331
Increase (decrease) in cash	(2,323)	3,874	(1,488)	4,356
Cash at beginning of period	19,722	18,170	18,887	17,688
Cash at end of period	17,399	22,044	17,399	22,044
Eliminations [Member]
Consolidating Guarantor Non-Guarantor Financials [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	(26,891)	(17,440)	(34,157)	(54,015)
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0	0
Other operating activities	26,891	17,440	34,157	54,015
Net cash provided by (used in) 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 provided by (used in) 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
Increase (decrease) in cash	0	0	0	0
Cash at beginning of period	0	0	0	0
Cash at end of period	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0