Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	9 Months Ended
Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	Sep. 30, 2015
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation [Policy Text Block]	Basis of Presentation The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include Libbey Inc. and its majority-owned subsidiaries (collectively, Libbey or the Company). Our fiscal year end is December 31^st. All material intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ materially from management’s estimates.
Revenue Recognition and Cost of Sales [Policy Text Block]	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations Net sales in our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations include revenue earned when products are shipped and title and risk of loss have passed to the customer. Revenue is recorded net of returns, discounts and incentives offered to customers. Cost of sales includes cost to manufacture and/or purchase products, warehouse, shipping and delivery costs and other costs.
Foreign Currency Translation [Policy Text Block]	Foreign Currency Translation Assets and liabilities of non-U.S. subsidiaries that operate in a local currency environment, where that local currency is the functional currency, are translated to U.S. dollars at exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date, with the resulting translation adjustments directly recorded to a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive loss. Income and expense accounts are translated at average exchange rates during the year. The effect of exchange rate changes on transactions denominated in currencies other than the functional currency is recorded in other income (expense).
Income Taxes [Policy Text Block]	Income Taxes Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recognized for estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and tax attribute carry-forwards. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification™ (FASB ASC) Topic 740, “Income Taxes,” requires that a valuation allowance be recorded when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred income tax assets will not be realized. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are determined separately for each tax jurisdiction in which we conduct our operations or otherwise incur taxable income or losses. In the United States, Portugal and the Netherlands, we have recorded valuation allowances against our deferred income tax assets. See note 6 for further discussion. We review the need for valuation allowances on a quarterly basis in order to assess the likelihood of the realization of our deferred tax assets. In assessing the need for recording or reversing a valuation allowance, we weigh all available positive and negative evidence. Examples of the evidence we consider are cumulative losses in recent years, losses expected in early future years, a history of potential tax benefits expiring unused, prudent and feasible tax planning strategies that could be implemented, and whether there were unusual, infrequent or extraordinary items to be considered. FASB ASC 740-20, "Income Taxes - Intraperiod Tax Allocation," requires that the provision for income taxes be allocated between continuing operations and other categories of earnings (such as discontinued operations or other comprehensive income) for each tax jurisdiction. For periods in which there is a year-to-date pre-tax loss from continuing operations and pre-tax income in other categories of earnings, the tax provision is first allocated to the other categories of earnings. A related tax benefit is then recorded in continuing operations.
Stock-Based Compensation [Policy Text Block]	Stock-Based Compensation Expense We account for stock-based compensation expense in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, “Compensation — Stock Compensation,” and FASB ASC Topic 505-50, “Equity — Equity-Based Payments to Non-Employees”. Stock-based compensation cost is measured based on the fair value of the equity instruments issued. FASB ASC Topics 718 and 505-50 apply to all of our outstanding unvested stock-based payment awards.
New Accounting Standards [Policy Text Block]	New Accounting Standards In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, "Revenue From Contracts With Customers" (ASU 2014-09), which outlines a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance. ASU 2014-09 is based on the principle that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 also requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts, including significant judgments and changes in judgments and assets recognized from costs incurred to fulfill a contract. Entities have the option of using either a full retrospective or a modified retrospective approach for the adoption of the new standard. This update is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016; early adoption is not permitted. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14 which defers the effective date one year from January 1, 2017 to January 1, 2018, but early adoption as of January 1, 2017 is permitted. We are currently assessing the impact that this standard will have on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. In August 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-15, "Presentation of Financial Statements-Going Concern" (ASU 2014-15), which establishes management’s responsibility to evaluate whether there is substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern in connection with preparing financial statements for each annual and interim reporting period. ASU 2014-15 also provides guidance to determine whether to disclose information about relevant conditions and events when there is substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern. This update is effective for annual reporting periods ending after December 15, 2016 and for annual and interim periods thereafter; early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact that this standard will have on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. In April 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-03, "Interest—Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs" (ASU 2015-03), which requires that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. Prior to the issuance of ASU 2015-03, debt issuance costs were required to be presented in the balance sheet as an asset. In August 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-15, "Interest—Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Presentation and Subsequent Measurement of Debt Issuance Costs Associated with Line-of-Credit Arrangements" (ASU 2015-15), which states that entities may continue presenting unamortized debt issuance costs for line-of-credit arrangements as an asset. ASU 2015-15 is effective immediately. ASU 2015-03 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015; early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact that ASU 2015-03 will have on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. In May 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2015-07, "Disclosures for Investments in Certain Entities that Calculate Net Asset Value Per Share (or its Equivalent)" (ASU 2015-07), which removes the requirement to categorize within the fair value hierarchy investments for which fair values are estimated using the net asset value practical expedient provided by FASB ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement. Disclosures about investments in certain entities that calculate net asset value per share are limited under ASU 2015-07 to those investments for which the entity has elected to estimate the fair value using the net asset value practical expedient. ASU 2015-07 is effective for entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, with retrospective application to all periods presented. Early application is permitted. We are currently assessing the impact that this standard will have on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. In July 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-11, "Inventory (Topic 330): Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory" (ASU 2015-11), which requires that inventory be measured at the lower of its cost or the estimated sale price, minus the costs of completing the sale, which the FASB calls the net realizable value. This update is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016; early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact that this standard will have on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, Pensions, Policy [Policy Text Block]	We have pension plans covering the majority of our employees. Benefits generally are based on compensation and service for salaried employees and job grade and length of service for hourly employees. Our policy is to fund pension plans such that sufficient assets will be available to meet future benefit requirements. In addition, we have an unfunded supplemental employee retirement plan (SERP) that covers certain salaried U.S.-based employees of Libbey hired before January 1, 2006. The U.S. pension plans cover the salaried U.S.-based employees of Libbey hired before January 1, 2006 and most hourly U.S.-based employees (excluding employees hired at Shreveport after 2008 and at Toledo after September 30, 2010). Effective January 1, 2013, we ceased annual company contribution credits to the cash balance accounts in our Libbey U.S. Salaried Pension Plan and SERP. The non-U.S. pension plans cover the employees of our wholly owned subsidiaries in the Netherlands and Mexico. The plan in Mexico is primarily unfunded.
Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, Nonpension Benefits, Policy [Policy Text Block]	We provide certain retiree health care and life insurance benefits covering our U.S. and Canadian salaried employees hired before January 1, 2004 and a majority of our union hourly employees (excluding employees hired at Shreveport after 2008 and at Toledo after September 30, 2010). Employees are generally eligible for benefits upon retirement and completion of a specified number of years of creditable service. Benefits for most hourly retirees are determined by collective bargaining. The U.S. non-pension postretirement plans cover the hourly and salaried U.S.-based employees of Libbey (excluding those mentioned above). The non-U.S. non-pension postretirement plans cover the retirees and active employees of Libbey who are located in Canada. The postretirement benefit plans are unfunded.
Earnings Per Share [Policy Text Block]	When applicable, diluted shares outstanding includes the dilutive impact of restricted stock units. Diluted shares also include the impact of eligible employee stock options, which are calculated based on the average share price for each fiscal period using the treasury stock method. Under the treasury stock method, the tax-effected proceeds that hypothetically would be received from the exercise of all in-the-money options are assumed to be used to repurchase shares.
Derivatives [Policy Text Block]	Derivatives We utilize derivative financial instruments to hedge certain interest rate risks associated with our long-term debt, commodity price risks associated with forecasted future natural gas requirements and foreign exchange rate risks associated with transactions denominated in a currency other than the U.S. dollar. These derivatives, except for the foreign currency contracts and the natural gas contracts used in our Mexican manufacturing facilities, qualify for hedge accounting since the hedges are highly effective, and we have designated and documented contemporaneously the hedging relationships involving these derivative instruments. While we intend to continue to meet the conditions for hedge accounting, if hedges do not qualify as highly effective (as is the case for natural gas contracts used in our Mexico manufacturing facility) or if we do not believe that forecasted transactions would occur, the changes in the fair value of the derivatives used as hedges would be reflected in our earnings. All of these contracts were accounted for under FASB ASC 815 “Derivatives and Hedging.”
Segment Reporting [Policy Text Block]	Segments Our reporting segments align with our regionally focused organizational structure, which we believe enables us to better serve customers across the globe. Under this structure, we report financial results for the Americas; Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA); U.S. Sourcing; and Other. In addition, sales and segment EBIT reflect end market reporting pursuant to which sales and related costs are included in segment EBIT based on the geographical destination of the sale. Our three reportable segments are defined below. Our operating segment that does not meet the criteria to be a reportable segment is disclosed as Other. Americas—includes primarily worldwide sales of manufactured and sourced glass tableware having an end market destination in North and South America. EMEA—includes primarily worldwide sales of manufactured and sourced glass tableware having an end market destination in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. U.S. Sourcing—includes primarily U.S. sales of sourced ceramic dinnerware, metal tableware, hollowware, and serveware. Other —includes worldwide sales of manufactured and sourced glass tableware having an end market destination in Asia Pacific. Our measure of profit for our reportable segments is Segment Earnings before Interest and Taxes (Segment EBIT) and excludes amounts related to certain items we consider not representative of ongoing operations as well as certain retained corporate costs and other allocations that are not considered by management when evaluating performance. We use Segment EBIT, along with net sales and selected cash flow information, to evaluate performance and to allocate resources. Segment EBIT for reportable segments includes an allocation of some corporate expenses based on the costs of services performed. Certain activities not related to any particular reportable segment are reported within retained corporate costs. These costs include certain headquarter, administrative and facility costs, and other costs that are global in nature and are not allocable to the reporting segments. The accounting policies of the reportable segments are the same as those described in note 2. We do not have any customers who represent 10 percent or more of total sales. Inter-segment sales are consummated at arm’s length and are reflected at end market reporting below.
Fair Value [Policy Text Block]	The fair values of our commodity futures natural gas contracts and currency contracts are determined using observable market inputs. The fair value of our interest rate agreement is based on the market standard methodology of netting the discounted expected future fixed cash payments and the discounted future variable cash receipts. The variable cash receipts are based on an expectation of future interest rates derived from observed market interest rate forward curves. Since these inputs are observable in active markets over the terms that the instruments are held, the derivatives are classified as Level 2 in the hierarchy. We also evaluate Company and counterparty risk in determining fair values. The commodity futures natural gas contracts, interest rate agreement and currency contracts are hedges of either recorded assets or liabilities or anticipated transactions. Changes in values of the underlying hedged assets and liabilities or anticipated transactions are not reflected in the above table.