Segments and Geographic Information (Reconciliation of Segment EBIT to Net Income) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012 segment		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of reportable segments	2
Net Sales:
Net sales	$ 825,287		$ 817,056		$ 799,794
Segment EBIT:
Segment EBIT	132,517		108,690		109,647
Reconciliation of Segment EBIT to Net Income:
Retained corporate costs	(41,584)		(37,789)		(35,804)
Gain (loss) on redemption of debt (note 6)	(31,075)		(2,803)		58,292
Severance	(5,150)		(1,105)		0
Pension curtailment and settlement charge	(4,306)		0		0
Gain on sale of Traex assets (note 17)	0		3,418		0
Gain on sale of land (1) (note 17)	0	[1]	3,445	[1]	0	[1]
Equipment write-down (note 5)	0		(817)		(2,696)
Equipment credit (note 5)	0		1,021		0
Restructuring charges (note 7)	0		84		(2,498)
CEO transition expenses	0		(2,722)		0
Abandoned property (note 18)	0		(2,719)		0
Insurance recovery	0		0		945
Equity offering fees on secondary stock offering	0		0		(1,047)
Interest expense	(37,727)		(43,419)		(45,171)
Income taxes	(5,709)		(1,643)		(11,582)
Net income	6,966		23,641		70,086
Depreciation & Amortization:
Depreciation and amortization	41,471		42,188		41,115
Capital Expenditures:
Capital expenditures	32,720		41,420		28,247
Segment Assets:
Assets	802,176		799,569
Glass Operations
Net Sales:
Net sales	753,006		746,581		717,576
Segment EBIT:
Segment EBIT	118,470		96,716		94,745
Depreciation & Amortization:
Depreciation and amortization	40,184		40,398		39,038
Capital Expenditures:
Capital expenditures	31,676		40,161		26,079
Segment Assets:
Assets	736,251		736,377
Other Operations
Net Sales:
Net sales	72,965		71,183		82,783
Segment EBIT:
Segment EBIT	14,047		11,974		14,902
Depreciation & Amortization:
Depreciation and amortization	40		265		715
Capital Expenditures:
Capital expenditures	0		28		239
Segment Assets:
Assets	34,402		32,638
Corporate
Depreciation & Amortization:
Depreciation and amortization	1,247		1,525		1,362
Capital Expenditures:
Capital expenditures	1,044		1,231		1,929
Segment Assets:
Assets	31,523		30,554
Eliminations
Net Sales:
Net sales	$ (684)		$ (708)		$ (565)

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