Borrowings (Fair Value of Borrowings) (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total borrowings	$ 423,001,000	$ 466,059,000
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] \| Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, fair value	423,200,000	488,300,000
Subsidiary, Libbey Glass [Member] \| Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total borrowings	$ 405,000,000	$ 450,000,000

Fair value portion of debt instrument payable, including, but not limited to, notes payable and loans payable.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 10

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28364263&loc=d3e13433-108611

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 12

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28364263&loc=d3e13476-108611

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant