Borrowings (Debt Schedule) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Apr. 09, 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total borrowings	$ 444,234lby_DebtLongTermAndShortTermGross	$ 444,904lby_DebtLongTermAndShortTermGross
Less - unamortized discount	942	982
Total borrowings -- net	443,292	443,922
Less -- long term debt due within one year	4,972us-gaap_DebtCurrent	7,658us-gaap_DebtCurrent
Total long-term portion of borrowings -- net	438,320us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent	436,264us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent
Subsidiaries, Libbey Glass and Libbey Europe [Member] \| ABL Facility [Member] \| Line of Credit [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total borrowings	4,100	0
Subsidiary, Libbey Glass [Member] \| Senior Loans [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	3.75%
Total borrowings	436,700	437,800
Less - unamortized discount			1,100
Subsidiary, Libbey Portugal [Member] \| AICEP Loan [Member] \| Loans Payable [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	0.00%
Total borrowings	3,434	3,846
Loans Payable [Member] \| Subsidiary, Libbey China [Member] \| RMB Working Capital Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	6.78%
Total borrowings	$ 0	$ 3,258

Debt, Long-term and Short-term, Gross

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	lby_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of short-term debt and current maturity of long-term debt and capital lease obligations due within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19,20)

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19

-Article 5

+ Details

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

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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- Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of debt discount that was originally recognized at the issuance of the instrument that has yet to be amortized.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1A

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28541-108399

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

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-Section 55

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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34725769&loc=d3e28878-108400

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
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- Definition

Represents the aggregate of total long-term debt, including current maturities and short-term debt.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Carrying amount of long-term debt, net of unamortized discount or premium, excluding amounts to be repaid within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer (current maturities). Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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- Details

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