Borrowings (Refinancing of Existing Indebtedness Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended		6 Months Ended					1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	May 07, 2013 Libbey Glass Senior Notes	Mar. 25, 2011 Libbey Glass Senior Notes	Jun. 30, 2012 Libbey Glass Senior Notes	Dec. 31, 2013 Libbey Glass Senior Notes		Jun. 29, 2012 Libbey Glass Senior Notes	May 18, 2012 Libbey Glass Senior Notes	May 31, 2012 U.S. Plans	Dec. 31, 2013 U.S. Plans	Dec. 31, 2012 U.S. Plans	Dec. 31, 2011 Common Stock Payment in Kind (PIK) Note	Dec. 31, 2006 Common Stock Payment in Kind (PIK) Note
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount										$ 450,000,000
Interest rate							6.875%	[1]	10.00%
Notes repurchased, face amount										320,000,000
Employer contributions											79,700,000	75,000	92,804,000
Notes redeemed, face amount				45,000,000	40,000,000				40,000,000
Debt instrument, call premium				1,300,000	1,200,000	23,600,000
Write-off of finance fees and discounts	1,168,000	10,975,000	1,600,000	1,200,000	1,600,000	11,000,000
Shares of common stock called by warrants															485,309
Exercise price of warrants, per share															11.25
Proceeds from exercise of warrants	$ 0	$ 0	$ 5,459,000											$ 5,500,000

[1] See Interest Rate Agreement under “Senior Secured Notes” below and in note 13.