Condensed Consolidated Guarantor Financial Statements (Cash Flow Statements) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Consolidating Guarantor Non-Guarantor Financials [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	$ 12,436	$ (10,143)	$ 14,425	$ (9,502)
Depreciation and amortization	11,623	10,288	22,397	20,824
Other operating activities	(14,674)	(52,566)	(40,117)	(82,841)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	9,385	(52,421)	(3,295)	(71,519)
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(10,889)	(5,386)	(19,771)	(11,832)
Other investing activities	4	239	8	419
Net cash (used in) investing activities	(10,885)	(5,147)	(19,763)	(11,413)
Net borrowings (repayments)	(35,255)	80,432	(35,314)	80,038
Other financing activities	1,161	(35,744)	1,698	(35,716)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(34,094)	44,688	(33,616)	44,322
Exchange effect on cash	189	(361)	10	(104)
Increase (decrease) in cash	(35,405)	(13,241)	(56,664)	(38,714)
Cash at beginning of period	45,949	32,818	67,208	58,291
Cash at end of period	10,544	19,577	10,544	19,577
Libbey Inc. (Parent) [Member]
Consolidating Guarantor Non-Guarantor Financials [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	12,436	(10,143)	14,425	(9,502)
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0	0
Other operating activities	(12,436)	10,143	(14,425)	9,502
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 (used in) investing activities	0	0	0	0
Net borrowings (repayments)	0	0	0	0
Other financing activities	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)	12,436	(10,143)	14,425	(9,502)
Depreciation and amortization	4,611	3,469	8,725	7,007
Other operating activities	(13,590)	(56,501)	(32,597)	(86,833)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	3,457	(63,175)	(9,447)	(89,328)
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(2,065)	(1,133)	(4,069)	(4,314)
Other investing activities	0	0	1	0
Net cash (used in) investing activities	(2,065)	(1,133)	(4,068)	(4,314)
Net borrowings (repayments)	(35,255)	89,949	(35,309)	89,898
Other financing activities	1,161	(35,744)	1,698	(35,716)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(34,094)	54,205	(33,611)	54,182
Exchange effect on cash	0	0	0	0
Increase (decrease) in cash	(32,702)	(10,103)	(47,126)	(39,460)
Cash at beginning of period	29,134	9,892	43,558	39,249
Cash at end of period	(3,568)	(211)	(3,568)	(211)
Subsidiary Guarantors [Member]
Consolidating Guarantor Non-Guarantor Financials [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	3,476	3,578	5,030	6,689
Depreciation and amortization	16	18	33	37
Other operating activities	(3,499)	(3,687)	(5,047)	(6,815)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	(7)	(91)	16	(89)
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(31)	0	(31)	0
Other investing activities	0	0	0	0
Net cash (used in) investing activities	(31)	0	(31)	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	(38)	(91)	(15)	(89)
Cash at beginning of period	93	157	70	155
Cash at end of period	55	66	55	66
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Consolidating Guarantor Non-Guarantor Financials [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	2,151	5,821	3,130	10,079
Depreciation and amortization	6,996	6,801	13,639	13,780
Other operating activities	(3,212)	(1,777)	(10,633)	(5,961)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	5,935	10,845	6,136	17,898
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(8,793)	(4,253)	(15,671)	(7,518)
Other investing activities	4	239	7	419
Net cash (used in) investing activities	(8,789)	(4,014)	(15,664)	(7,099)
Net borrowings (repayments)	0	(9,517)	(5)	(9,860)
Other financing activities	0	0	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	0	(9,517)	(5)	(9,860)
Exchange effect on cash	189	(361)	10	(104)
Increase (decrease) in cash	(2,665)	(3,047)	(9,523)	835
Cash at beginning of period	16,722	22,769	23,580	18,887
Cash at end of period	14,057	19,722	14,057	19,722
Eliminations [Member]
Consolidating Guarantor Non-Guarantor Financials [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	(18,063)	744	(22,585)	(7,266)
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0	0
Other operating activities	18,063	(744)	22,585	7,266
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 (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