Contingencies	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Contingencies	Contingencies Legal Proceedings From time to time, we are identified as a "potentially responsible party" (PRP) under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA) and/or similar state laws that impose liability without regard to fault for costs and damages relating to the investigation and clean-up of contamination resulting from releases or threatened releases of hazardous substances. We are also subject to similar laws in some of the countries where our facilities are located. Our environmental, health, and safety department monitors compliance with applicable laws on a global basis. On October 30, 2009, the United States Environmental Protection Agency ("U.S. EPA") designated Syracuse China Company ("Syracuse China"), our wholly-owned subsidiary, as one of eight PRPs with respect to the Lower Ley Creek sub-site of the Onondaga Lake Superfund site located near the ceramic dinnerware manufacturing facility that Syracuse China operated from 1995 to 2009 in Syracuse, New York. As a PRP, we may be required to pay a share of the costs of investigation and remediation of the Lower Ley Creek sub-site. U.S. EPA has completed its Remedial Investigation (RI), Feasibility Study (FS), Risk Assessment (RA) and Proposed Remedial Action Plan (PRAP). U.S. EPA issued its Record of Decision (RoD) on September 30, 2014. The RoD indicates that U.S. EPA's estimate of the undiscounted cost of remediation ranges between approximately $17.0 million (assuming local disposal of contaminated sediments is feasible) and approximately $24.8 million (assuming local disposal is not feasible). However, the RoD acknowledges that the final cost of the cleanup will depend upon the actual volume of contaminated material, the degree to which it is contaminated, and where the excavated soil and sediment is properly disposed. In connection with the General Motors Corporation bankruptcy, U.S. EPA recovered $22.0 million from Motors Liquidation Company (MLC), the successor to General Motors Corporation. If the cleanup costs do not exceed the amount recovered by U.S. EPA from MLC, Syracuse China may suffer no loss. If and to the extent the cleanup costs exceed the amount recovered by U.S. EPA from MLC, it is not yet known whether other PRPs will be added to the current group of PRPs or how any excess costs may be allocated among the PRPs. On March 3, 2015, the EPA issued to the PRPs notices and requests to negotiate performance of the remedial design (RD), work. The notices contemplate that any agreement to perform the RD work would be memorialized in an Administrative Order on Consent (AOC). On July 14, 2016, the PRPs entered into an AOC to perform the RD work. The EPA and PRPs anticipate that the RD work will produce additional information from which the feasibility of a local disposal option and the cleanup costs can be better determined. The EPA has declined to advance the GM Settlement Funds for the RD work, instead conditioning use of those funds to reimburse for the RD work upon the successful completion of the RD work and the finalization of an AOC to perform the remedial action work. To the extent that Syracuse China has a liability with respect to the Lower Ley Creek sub-site, including without limitation costs to fund the RD work, and to the extent the liability arose prior to our 1995 acquisition of the Syracuse China assets, the liability would be subject to the indemnification provisions contained in the Asset Purchase Agreement between the Company and The Pfaltzgraff Co. (now known as TPC-York, Inc. ("TPC York")) and certain of its subsidiaries. Accordingly, Syracuse China has notified TPC York of its claim for indemnification under the Asset Purchase Agreement. In connection with the above proceedings, an estimated environmental liability of $0.9 million and a recoverable amount of $0.5 million in other long term assets have been recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2016. An estimated liability of $1.1 million and a recoverable amount of $0.6 million in other long term assets have been recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2015. An immaterial amount, $0.2 million and $0.3 million have been recorded in cost of sales in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Although we cannot predict the ultimate outcome of this proceeding, we believe that it will not have a material adverse impact on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. Insurance claim In September of 2013, Libbey had a furnace malfunction at our manufacturing facility in Toledo, Ohio, resulting in an insurance claim with the final settlement received in the fourth quarter of 2014. The total reimbursement for the claim and related expenses was $15.7 million. $5.0 million was recognized in 2013 in accounts receivable and received in the first quarter of 2014. The remaining $10.7 million was received in the fourth quarter of 2014 and recognized as a reduction to cost of sales in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for business interruption. On the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the year ended December 31, 2014, $2.4 million was recorded as an investing activity and $13.3 million was recorded as cash from operations. Income Taxes The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to examination by various countries' tax authorities. These examinations may lead to proposed or assessed adjustments to our taxes. Please refer to note 8, Income Taxes, for a detailed discussion on tax contingencies.

Contingencies

Legal Proceedings

From time to time, we are identified as a "potentially responsible party" (PRP) under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA) and/or similar state laws that impose liability without regard to fault for costs and damages relating to the investigation and clean-up of contamination resulting from releases or threatened releases of hazardous substances. We are also subject to similar laws in some of the countries where our facilities are located. Our environmental, health, and safety department monitors compliance with applicable laws on a global basis.

On October 30, 2009, the United States Environmental Protection Agency ("U.S. EPA") designated Syracuse China Company ("Syracuse China"), our wholly-owned subsidiary, as one of eight PRPs with respect to the Lower Ley Creek sub-site of the Onondaga Lake Superfund site located near the ceramic dinnerware manufacturing facility that Syracuse China operated from 1995 to 2009 in Syracuse, New York. As a PRP, we may be required to pay a share of the costs of investigation and remediation of the Lower Ley Creek sub-site.

U.S. EPA has completed its Remedial Investigation (RI), Feasibility Study (FS), Risk Assessment (RA) and Proposed Remedial Action Plan (PRAP). U.S. EPA issued its Record of Decision (RoD) on September 30, 2014. The RoD indicates that U.S. EPA's estimate of the undiscounted cost of remediation ranges between approximately $17.0 million (assuming local disposal of contaminated sediments is feasible) and approximately $24.8 million (assuming local disposal is not feasible). However, the RoD acknowledges that the final cost of the cleanup will depend upon the actual volume of contaminated material, the degree to which it is contaminated, and where the excavated soil and sediment is properly disposed. In connection with the General Motors Corporation bankruptcy, U.S. EPA recovered $22.0 million from Motors Liquidation Company (MLC), the successor to General Motors Corporation. If the cleanup costs do not exceed the amount recovered by U.S. EPA from MLC, Syracuse China may suffer no loss. If and to the extent the cleanup costs exceed the amount recovered by U.S. EPA from MLC, it is not yet known whether other PRPs will be added to the current group of PRPs or how any excess costs may be allocated among the PRPs.

On March 3, 2015, the EPA issued to the PRPs notices and requests to negotiate performance of the remedial design (RD), work. The notices contemplate that any agreement to perform the RD work would be memorialized in an Administrative Order on Consent (AOC). On July 14, 2016, the PRPs entered into an AOC to perform the RD work. The EPA and PRPs anticipate that the RD work will produce additional information from which the feasibility of a local disposal option and the cleanup costs can be better determined. The EPA has declined to advance the GM Settlement Funds for the RD work, instead conditioning use of those funds to reimburse for the RD work upon the successful completion of the RD work and the finalization of an AOC to perform the remedial action work.

To the extent that Syracuse China has a liability with respect to the Lower Ley Creek sub-site, including without limitation costs to fund the RD work, and to the extent the liability arose prior to our 1995 acquisition of the Syracuse China assets, the liability would be subject to the indemnification provisions contained in the Asset Purchase Agreement between the Company and The Pfaltzgraff Co. (now known as TPC-York, Inc. ("TPC York")) and certain of its subsidiaries. Accordingly, Syracuse China has notified TPC York of its claim for indemnification under the Asset Purchase Agreement.

In connection with the above proceedings, an estimated environmental liability of $0.9 million and a recoverable amount of $0.5 million in other long term assets have been recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2016. An estimated liability of $1.1 million and a recoverable amount of $0.6 million in other long term assets have been recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2015. An immaterial amount, $0.2 million and $0.3 million have been recorded in cost of sales in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Although we cannot predict the ultimate outcome of this proceeding, we believe that it will not have a material adverse impact on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

Insurance claim

In September of 2013, Libbey had a furnace malfunction at our manufacturing facility in Toledo, Ohio, resulting in an insurance claim with the final settlement received in the fourth quarter of 2014. The total reimbursement for the claim and related expenses was $15.7 million. $5.0 million was recognized in 2013 in accounts receivable and received in the first quarter of 2014. The remaining $10.7 million was received in the fourth quarter of 2014 and recognized as a reduction to cost of sales in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for business interruption. On the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the year ended December 31, 2014, $2.4 million was recorded as an investing activity and $13.3 million was recorded as cash from operations.

Income Taxes

The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to examination by various countries' tax authorities. These examinations may lead to proposed or assessed adjustments to our taxes. Please refer to note 8, Income Taxes, for a detailed discussion on tax contingencies.