Condensed Consolidated Guarantor Financial Statements (Cash Flow Statements) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Consolidating Guarantor Non-Guarantor Financials [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	$ 4,749	$ 14,861	$ 19,174	$ 5,359
Depreciation and amortization	11,773	10,073	34,170	30,897
Other operating activities	18,245	2,955	(21,872)	(79,886)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	34,767	27,889	31,472	(43,630)
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(10,381)	(5,412)	(30,152)	(17,244)
Other investing activities	73	131	81	550
Net cash (used in) investing activities	(10,308)	(5,281)	(30,071)	(16,694)
Net borrowings (repayments)	(8,103)	(8,317)	(43,417)	71,721
Other financing activities	2,059	(627)	3,757	(36,343)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(6,044)	(8,944)	(39,660)	35,378
Exchange effect on cash	507	106	517	2
Increase (decrease) in cash	18,922	13,770	(37,742)	(24,944)
Cash at beginning of period	10,544	19,577	67,208	58,291
Cash at end of period	29,466	33,347	29,466	33,347
Libbey Inc. (Parent) [Member]
Consolidating Guarantor Non-Guarantor Financials [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	4,749	14,861	19,174	5,359
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0	0
Other operating activities	(4,749)	(14,861)	(19,174)	(5,359)
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
Libbey Glass (Issuer) [Member]
Consolidating Guarantor Non-Guarantor Financials [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	4,749	14,861	19,174	5,359
Depreciation and amortization	2,921	3,143	11,646	10,150
Other operating activities	12,531	159	(20,066)	(86,674)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	20,201	18,163	10,754	(71,165)
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(2,620)	(1,478)	(6,689)	(5,792)
Other investing activities	1	0	2	0
Net cash (used in) investing activities	(2,619)	(1,478)	(6,687)	(5,792)
Net borrowings (repayments)	(9,856)	(53)	(45,165)	89,845
Other financing activities	2,059	(627)	3,757	(36,343)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(7,797)	(680)	(41,408)	53,502
Exchange effect on cash	0	0	0	0
Increase (decrease) in cash	9,785	16,005	(37,341)	(23,455)
Cash at beginning of period	(3,568)	(211)	43,558	39,249
Cash at end of period	6,217	15,794	6,217	15,794
Subsidiary Guarantors [Member]
Consolidating Guarantor Non-Guarantor Financials [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	2,110	4,399	7,140	11,088
Depreciation and amortization	13	17	46	54
Other operating activities	(2,122)	(4,328)	(7,169)	(11,143)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	1	88	17	(1)
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(4)	0	(35)	0
Other investing activities	0	0	0	0
Net cash (used in) investing activities	(4)	0	(35)	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	(3)	88	(18)	(1)
Cash at beginning of period	55	66	70	155
Cash at end of period	52	154	52	154
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Consolidating Guarantor Non-Guarantor Financials [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	5,973	7,631	9,103	17,710
Depreciation and amortization	8,839	6,913	22,478	20,693
Other operating activities	(247)	(4,906)	(10,880)	(10,867)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	14,565	9,638	20,701	27,536
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(7,757)	(3,934)	(23,428)	(11,452)
Other investing activities	72	131	79	550
Net cash (used in) investing activities	(7,685)	(3,803)	(23,349)	(10,902)
Net borrowings (repayments)	1,753	(8,264)	1,748	(18,124)
Other financing activities	0	0	0	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	1,753	(8,264)	1,748	(18,124)
Exchange effect on cash	507	106	517	2
Increase (decrease) in cash	9,140	(2,323)	(383)	(1,488)
Cash at beginning of period	14,057	19,722	23,580	18,887
Cash at end of period	23,197	17,399	23,197	17,399
Eliminations [Member]
Consolidating Guarantor Non-Guarantor Financials [Line Items]
Net income (loss)	(12,832)	(26,891)	(35,417)	(34,157)
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0	0
Other operating activities	12,832	26,891	35,417	34,157
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