Condensed Consolidated Guarantor Financial Statements (Balance Sheets) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Consolidating Guarantor Non-Guarantor Financials [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 10,544	$ 45,949	$ 67,208	$ 19,577	$ 32,818	$ 58,291
Accounts receivable - net	91,482		80,850
Inventories - net	175,911		157,549
Other current assets	20,000		12,997
Total current assets	297,937		318,604
Other non-current assets	34,658		38,624
Investments in and advances to subsidiaries	0		0
Goodwill and purchased intangible assets - net	186,785		186,794
Total other assets	221,443		225,418
Property, plant and equipment - net	253,800		258,154
Total assets	773,180		802,176
Accounts payable	59,309		65,712
Accrued and other current liabilities	83,131		95,535
Notes payable and long-term debt due within one year	14,242		4,583
Total current liabilities	156,682		165,830
Long-term debt	415,506		461,884
Other long-term liabilities	148,110		149,986
Total liabilities	720,298		777,700
Total shareholders' equity (deficit)	52,882		24,476
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	773,180		802,176
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	52,882		24,476
Goodwill and purchased intangible assets - net	0		0
Total other assets	52,882		24,476
Property, plant and equipment - net	0		0
Total assets	52,882		24,476
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)	52,882		24,476
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	52,882		24,476
Libbey Glass (Issuer) [Member]
Consolidating Guarantor Non-Guarantor Financials [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	(3,568)	29,134	43,558	(211)	9,892	39,249
Accounts receivable - net	38,630		33,987
Inventories - net	65,687		52,627
Other current assets	19,420		17,931
Total current assets	120,169		148,103
Other non-current assets	18,203		22,373
Investments in and advances to subsidiaries	394,048		384,414
Goodwill and purchased intangible assets - net	27,423		26,833
Total other assets	439,674		433,620
Property, plant and equipment - net	65,801		72,780
Total assets	625,644		654,503
Accounts payable	11,939		15,339
Accrued and other current liabilities	50,911		63,674
Notes payable and long-term debt due within one year	228		221
Total current liabilities	63,078		79,234
Long-term debt	414,264		451,090
Other long-term liabilities	92,289		94,434
Total liabilities	569,631		624,758
Total shareholders' equity (deficit)	56,013		29,745
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	625,644		654,503
Subsidiary Guarantors [Member]
Consolidating Guarantor Non-Guarantor Financials [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	55	93	70	66	157	155
Accounts receivable - net	5,607		3,560
Inventories - net	21,299		18,477
Other current assets	1,212		810
Total current assets	28,173		22,917
Other non-current assets	0		54
Investments in and advances to subsidiaries	195,294		194,316
Goodwill and purchased intangible assets - net	12,347		12,347
Total other assets	207,641		206,717
Property, plant and equipment - net	296		298
Total assets	236,110		229,932
Accounts payable	2,798		2,854
Accrued and other current liabilities	21,482		20,194
Notes payable and long-term debt due within one year	0		0
Total current liabilities	24,280		23,048
Long-term debt	0		0
Other long-term liabilities	9,638		9,691
Total liabilities	33,918		32,739
Total shareholders' equity (deficit)	202,192		197,193
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	236,110		229,932
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Consolidating Guarantor Non-Guarantor Financials [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	14,057	16,722	23,580	19,722	22,769	18,887
Accounts receivable - net	47,245		43,303
Inventories - net	88,925		86,445
Other current assets	16,732		10,446
Total current assets	166,959		163,774
Other non-current assets	20,645		20,387
Investments in and advances to subsidiaries	(44,054)		(35,962)
Goodwill and purchased intangible assets - net	147,015		147,614
Total other assets	123,606		132,039
Property, plant and equipment - net	187,703		185,076
Total assets	478,268		480,889
Accounts payable	44,572		47,519
Accrued and other current liabilities	27,653		27,857
Notes payable and long-term debt due within one year	14,014		4,362
Total current liabilities	86,239		79,738
Long-term debt	1,242		10,794
Other long-term liabilities	50,373		50,051
Total liabilities	137,854		140,583
Total shareholders' equity (deficit)	340,414		340,306
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	478,268		480,889
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	(17,364)		(16,190)
Total current assets	(17,364)		(16,190)
Other non-current assets	(4,190)		(4,190)
Investments in and advances to subsidiaries	(598,170)		(567,244)
Goodwill and purchased intangible assets - net	0		0
Total other assets	(602,360)		(571,434)
Property, plant and equipment - net	0		0
Total assets	(619,724)		(587,624)
Accounts payable	0		0
Accrued and other current liabilities	(16,915)		(16,190)
Notes payable and long-term debt due within one year	0		0
Total current liabilities	(16,915)		(16,190)
Long-term debt	0		0
Other long-term liabilities	(4,190)		(4,190)
Total liabilities	(21,105)		(20,380)
Total shareholders' equity (deficit)	(598,619)		(567,244)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ (619,724)		$ (587,624)