Segments (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011		Sep. 30, 2012 segment		Sep. 30, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of reportable segments					2
Net Sales:
Net sales	$ 209,150		$ 207,246		$ 606,226		$ 602,274
Segment EBIT:
Segment EBIT	38,326		32,779		105,356		86,784
Reconciliation of Segment EBIT to Net Income (Loss)
Retained corporate costs	(10,413)		(7,352)		(33,708)		(27,255)
Loss on redemption of debt (note 4)	0		0		(31,075)		(2,803)
Severance and other	(3,786)		0		(3,786)		0
Gain (expense) on sale of Traex assets	0		(81)		0		3,240
Gain on sale of land	0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]	3,445	[1]
Equipment credit (note 16)	0		0		0		1,021
Restructuring charges	0		78		0		84
CEO transition expenses	0		(2,091)		0		(2,511)
Abandoned property (note 15)	0		(2,719)		0		(2,719)
Interest expense	(8,720)		(10,559)		(29,085)		(32,929)
Income taxes	(546)		(2,928)		(2,343)		(4,825)
Net income (loss)	14,861		7,127		5,359		21,532
Depreciation & Amortization:
Depreciation and amortization	10,073		10,357		30,897		32,265
Capital Expenditures:
Capital expenditures	5,412		8,059		17,244		26,457
Glass Operations [Member]
Net Sales:
Net sales	189,860		190,813		551,679		547,353
Segment EBIT:
Segment EBIT	33,970		29,801		94,259		77,165
Depreciation & Amortization:
Depreciation and amortization	9,735		9,999		29,761		30,779
Capital Expenditures:
Capital expenditures	4,933		7,511		16,397		25,280
Other Operations [Member]
Net Sales:
Net sales	19,427		16,597		55,123		55,448
Segment EBIT:
Segment EBIT	4,356		2,978		11,097		9,619
Depreciation & Amortization:
Depreciation and amortization	10		11		32		257
Capital Expenditures:
Capital expenditures	0		12		0		15
Corporate [Member]
Depreciation & Amortization:
Depreciation and amortization	328		347		1,104		1,229
Capital Expenditures:
Capital expenditures	479		536		847		1,162
Eliminations [Member]
Net Sales:
Net sales	$ (137)		$ (164)		$ (576)		$ (527)

[1] Net gain on the sale of land at our Libbey Holland facility.