Condensed Consolidated Guarantor Financial Statements (Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Consolidating Guarantor Non-Guarantor Financials [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 181,581	$ 183,476
Freight billed to customers	814	752
Total revenues	182,395	184,228
Cost of sales	150,056	141,996
Gross profit	32,339	42,232
Selling, general and administrative expenses	28,878	26,397
Special charges	0	4,314
Income from operations	3,461	11,521
Other income (expense)	(322)	(435)
Earnings before interest and income taxes	3,139	11,086
Interest expense	7,701	8,435
Income (loss) before income taxes	(4,562)	2,651
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	(1,178)	662
Net income (loss)	(3,384)	1,989
Equity in net income (loss) of subsidiaries	0	0
Net income (loss)	(3,384)	1,989
Comprehensive income (loss)	(2,485)	2,780
Libbey Inc. (Parent) [Member]
Consolidating Guarantor Non-Guarantor Financials [Line Items]
Net sales	0	0
Freight billed to customers	0	0
Total revenues	0	0
Cost of sales	0	0
Gross profit	0	0
Selling, general and administrative expenses	0	0
Special charges	0	0
Income from operations	0	0
Other income (expense)	0	0
Earnings before interest and income taxes	0	0
Interest expense	0	0
Income (loss) before income taxes	0	0
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	0	0
Net income (loss)	0	0
Equity in net income (loss) of subsidiaries	(3,384)	1,989
Net income (loss)	(3,384)	1,989
Comprehensive income (loss)	(2,485)	2,780
Libbey Glass (Issuer) [Member]
Consolidating Guarantor Non-Guarantor Financials [Line Items]
Net sales	83,792	86,930
Freight billed to customers	168	99
Total revenues	83,960	87,029
Cost of sales	69,020	62,600
Gross profit	14,940	24,429
Selling, general and administrative expenses	14,635	15,057
Special charges	0	4,314
Income from operations	305	5,058
Other income (expense)	(332)	(1)
Earnings before interest and income taxes	(27)	5,057
Interest expense	5,773	6,420
Income (loss) before income taxes	(5,800)	(1,363)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	(1,035)	(819)
Net income (loss)	(4,765)	(544)
Equity in net income (loss) of subsidiaries	1,381	2,533
Net income (loss)	(3,384)	1,989
Comprehensive income (loss)	(2,485)	2,780
Subsidiary Guarantors [Member]
Consolidating Guarantor Non-Guarantor Financials [Line Items]
Net sales	18,697	18,360
Freight billed to customers	191	234
Total revenues	18,888	18,594
Cost of sales	14,998	14,360
Gross profit	3,890	4,234
Selling, general and administrative expenses	2,833	2,669
Special charges	0	0
Income from operations	1,057	1,565
Other income (expense)	(10)	(9)
Earnings before interest and income taxes	1,047	1,556
Interest expense	0	0
Income (loss) before income taxes	1,047	1,556
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	24	2
Net income (loss)	1,023	1,554
Equity in net income (loss) of subsidiaries	0	0
Net income (loss)	1,023	1,554
Comprehensive income (loss)	1,160	1,696
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Consolidating Guarantor Non-Guarantor Financials [Line Items]
Net sales	98,794	89,379
Freight billed to customers	455	419
Total revenues	99,249	89,798
Cost of sales	85,740	76,229
Gross profit	13,509	13,569
Selling, general and administrative expenses	11,410	8,671
Special charges	0	0
Income from operations	2,099	4,898
Other income (expense)	20	(425)
Earnings before interest and income taxes	2,119	4,473
Interest expense	1,928	2,015
Income (loss) before income taxes	191	2,458
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	(167)	1,479
Net income (loss)	358	979
Equity in net income (loss) of subsidiaries	0	0
Net income (loss)	358	979
Comprehensive income (loss)	164	(1,552)
Eliminations [Member]
Consolidating Guarantor Non-Guarantor Financials [Line Items]
Net sales	(19,702)	(11,193)
Freight billed to customers	0	0
Total revenues	(19,702)	(11,193)
Cost of sales	(19,702)	(11,193)
Gross profit	0	0
Selling, general and administrative expenses	0	0
Special charges	0	0
Income from operations	0	0
Other income (expense)	0	0
Earnings before interest and income taxes	0	0
Interest expense	0	0
Income (loss) before income taxes	0	0
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	0	0
Net income (loss)	0	0
Equity in net income (loss) of subsidiaries	2,003	(4,522)
Net income (loss)	2,003	(4,522)
Comprehensive income (loss)	$ 1,161	$ (2,924)