Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	12 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2011
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]	Summary of Significant Accounting Policies General Shiloh Industries, Inc. and its subsidiaries (“the Company”) is a full service manufacturer of first operation blanks, engineered welded blanks, complex stampings and modular assemblies for the automotive, heavy truck and other industrial markets. In addition, the Company is a designer and engineer of precision tools and dies and welding and assembly equipment for use in its blanking and stamping operations and for sale to original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”), Tier I automotive suppliers and other industrial customers. The Company's blanks, which are engineered two dimensional shapes cut from flat-rolled steel, are principally sold to automotive and truck OEMs and are used for structural and exterior steel components, such as support brackets, frame sides, fenders, hoods and doors. These blanks include first operation exposed and unexposed blanks and more advanced engineered welded blanks. Engineered welded blanks generally consist of two or more sheets of steel of the same or different material grade, thickness, or coating that are welded together utilizing both mash seam resistance and laser welding. The Company's stampings are principally used as components in mufflers, seat frames, structural rails, window lifts, heat shields, vehicle brakes and other structural body components. The Company also builds modular assemblies, which include components used in the structural and powertrain systems of a vehicle. Structural systems include bumper beams, door impact beams, steering column supports, chassis components and structural underbody modules. Powertrain systems consist of deep draw components, such as oil pans, transmission pans and valve covers. Additionally, the Company provides a variety of intermediate steel processing services, such as oiling, leveling, cutting-to-length, multi-blanking, slitting, edge trimming of hot and cold-rolled steel coils and inventory control services for automotive and steel industry customers. The Company has fourteen wholly-owned subsidiaries at locations in Ohio, Michigan, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky and Mexico. More than 50% of the Company's outstanding shares of Common Stock are owned by MTD Holdings Inc and the MTD Products Inc Master Employee Benefit Trust, a trust fund established and sponsored by MTD Products, making MTD a related party of the Company. Principles of Consolidation The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Shiloh Industries, Inc. and all wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated. Revenue Recognition The Company recognizes revenue both for sales from toll processing and sales of products made with Company owned steel when there is evidence of a sales agreement, the delivery of goods has occurred, the sales price is fixed or determinable and collectability of revenue is reasonably assured. The Company records revenues upon shipment of product to customers and transfer of title under standard commercial terms. Price adjustments including those arising from resolution of quality issues, price and quantity discrepancies, surcharges for fuel and/or steel and other commercial issues are recognized in the period when management believes that such amounts become probable, based on management's estimates. Shipping and Handling Costs The Company classifies all amounts billed to a customer in a sales transaction related to shipping and handling as revenue and the costs incurred by the Company for shipping and handling are classified as costs of sales. Inventories Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market, using the first-in first-out (“FIFO”) method. Property, Plant and Equipment Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Expenditures for maintenance, repairs and renewals are charged to expense as incurred, while major improvements are capitalized. The cost of these improvements is depreciated over their estimated useful lives. Useful lives range from three to twelve years for furniture and fixtures and machinery and equipment, or if the assets are dedicated to a customer program, over the estimated life of that program, ten to twenty years for land improvements and twenty to forty years for buildings and their related improvements. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method for financial reporting purposes and accelerated methods for income tax purposes. When assets are retired or otherwise disposed, the related cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts, and any gain or loss on the disposition is included in the earnings for the current period. Employee Benefit Plans The Company accrues the cost of defined benefit pension plans, in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 715 “Compensation - Retirement Benefits.” The plans are funded based on the requirements and limitations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. The majority of employees of the Company also participate in discretionary profit sharing plans administered by the Company. The Company also provides postretirement benefits to approximately 32 former employees. Stock-Based Compensation The Company records compensation cost for share-based awards based upon fair value. The Company has elected to use the simplified method of calculating the expected term of the stock options and historical volatility to compute fair value under the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The risk-free rate for periods within the contractual life of the option is based on the U.S. zero coupon Treasury yield in effect at the time of grant. Forfeitures have been estimated based upon the Company's historical experience. Income Taxes The Company utilizes the asset and liability method in accounting for income taxes. Income tax expense includes U.S. and international income taxes minus tax credits and other incentives that will reduce tax expense in the year they are claimed. Deferred taxes are recognized at currently enacted tax rates for temporary differences between the financial accounting and income tax basis of assets and liabilities and operating losses and tax credit carryforwards. Valuation allowances are recorded to reduce net deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized. The Company assesses both positive and negative evidence when measuring the need for a valuation allowance. Evidence typically assessed includes the operating results for the most recent three-year period and, to a lesser extent because of inherent uncertainty, the expectations of future profitability, available tax planning strategies, the time period over which the temporary differences will reverse and taxable income in prior carryback years if carryback is permitted under the tax law. The calculation of the Company's tax liabilities also involves dealing with uncertainties in the application of complex tax laws and regulations. The Company recognizes liabilities for uncertain income tax positions based on the Company's estimate of whether, and the extent to which, additional taxes will be required. The Company reports interest and penalties related to uncertain income tax positions as income taxes. Impairment The Company evaluates the recoverability of long-lived assets and the related estimated remaining lives whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. Events or changes in circumstances which could cause an impairment include significant underperformance relative to the historical or projected future operating results, significant changes in the manner of the use of the assets or the strategy for the overall business or significant negative industry or economic trends. The Company records an impairment or change in useful life whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of long-lived assets may not be recoverable or the useful life has changed. Comprehensive Income Comprehensive income is defined as net income (loss) and changes in stockholders' equity from non-owner sources which, for the Company in the periods presented, consists of pension related liability adjustments. Statement of Cash Flows Information Cash and cash equivalents include checking accounts and all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less. Concentration of Risk The Company sells products to customers primarily in the automotive and heavy truck industries. Financial instruments, which potentially subject the Company to concentration of credit risk, are primarily accounts receivable. The Company performs on-going credit evaluations of its customers' financial condition. The allowance for non-collection of accounts receivable is based on the expected collectability of all accounts receivable. Losses have historically been within management's expectations. The Company does not have financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk. Refer to Note 14-Business Segment Information for discussion of concentration of revenues. As of October 31, 2011, the Company had approximately 1,273 employees. A total of approximately 50 employees at one of the Company's subsidiaries are covered by a collective bargaining agreement that is due to expire in November 2014. Fair Value of Financial Instruments The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables and payables approximate fair value because of the short maturity of those instruments. The carrying value of the Company's debt is considered to approximate the fair value of these instruments based on the borrowing rates currently available to the Company for loans with similar terms and maturities. Derivative Financial Instruments The Company does not engage in derivatives trading, market-making or other speculative activities. The intent of any contracts entered by the Company is to reduce exposure to currency movements affecting foreign currency purchase commitments. The Company's risks related to foreign currency exchange risks have historically not been material. The Company does not expect the effects of these risks to be material in the future based on current operating and economic conditions in the countries and markets in which it operates. These contracts are marked-to-market and the resulting gain or loss is recorded in the consolidated statements of operations. As of October 31, 2011 and 2010, there were no foreign currency forward exchange contracts outstanding. Guarantees The Company has certain indemnification clauses within its credit facility and certain lease agreements that are considered to be guarantees within the scope of FASB ASC Topic 460, “Guarantees”. The Company does not consider these guarantees to be probable and the Company cannot estimate the maximum exposure. Additionally, the Company's exposure to warranty-related obligations is not material. Accounting Estimates The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. On an ongoing basis, management reviews its estimates based upon current available information. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Prior Year Reclassification Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform with current year presentation. Other New Accounting Standards During fiscal 2011, several new accounting standards became effective for the Company. These new standards are included in the following topics of the FASB ASC: Topic 310, “Receivables,” Topic 605 “Revenue Recognition” and Topic 220 "Comprehensive Income." The first two standards were adopted in the first quarter of fiscal 2011 and the changes did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The last standard, "Comprehensive Income," becomes effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011, which for the Company would be the first quarter ended January 31, 2013. This standard requires that other comprehensive income be presented as either a separate statement, or as an addition to the statement of income and prohibits the presentation of other comprehensive income in the statement of shareholders' equity. As the Company has historically presented other comprehensive income as part of the statement of shareholders' equity, the Company will have to retroactively restate its financial statements for this change upon adoption of this accounting standard.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

General

Shiloh Industries, Inc. and its subsidiaries (“the Company”) is a full service manufacturer of first operation blanks, engineered welded blanks, complex stampings and modular assemblies for the automotive, heavy truck and other industrial markets. In addition, the Company is a designer and engineer of precision tools and dies and welding and assembly equipment for use in its blanking and stamping operations and for sale to original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”), Tier I automotive suppliers and other industrial customers. The Company's blanks, which are engineered two dimensional shapes cut from flat-rolled steel, are principally sold to automotive and truck OEMs and are used for structural and exterior steel components, such as support brackets, frame sides, fenders, hoods and doors. These blanks include first operation exposed and unexposed blanks and more advanced engineered welded blanks. Engineered welded blanks generally consist of two or more sheets of steel of the same or different material grade, thickness, or coating that are welded together utilizing both mash seam resistance and laser welding. The Company's stampings are principally used as components in mufflers, seat frames, structural rails, window lifts, heat shields, vehicle brakes and other structural body components.

The Company also builds modular assemblies, which include components used in the structural and powertrain systems of a vehicle. Structural systems include bumper beams, door impact beams, steering column supports, chassis components and structural underbody modules. Powertrain systems consist of deep draw components, such as oil pans, transmission pans and valve covers. Additionally, the Company provides a variety of intermediate steel processing services, such as oiling, leveling, cutting-to-length, multi-blanking, slitting, edge trimming of hot and cold-rolled steel coils and inventory control services for automotive and steel industry customers. The Company has fourteen wholly-owned subsidiaries at locations in Ohio, Michigan, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky and Mexico.

More than 50% of the Company's outstanding shares of Common Stock are owned by MTD Holdings Inc and the MTD Products Inc Master Employee Benefit Trust, a trust fund established and sponsored by MTD Products, making MTD a related party of the Company.

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Shiloh Industries, Inc. and all wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated.

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue both for sales from toll processing and sales of products made with Company owned steel when there is evidence of a sales agreement, the delivery of goods has occurred, the sales price is fixed or determinable and collectability of revenue is reasonably assured. The Company records revenues upon shipment of product to customers and transfer of title under standard commercial terms. Price adjustments including those arising from resolution of quality issues, price and quantity discrepancies, surcharges for fuel and/or steel and other commercial issues are recognized in the period when management believes that such amounts become probable, based on management's estimates.

Shipping and Handling Costs

The Company classifies all amounts billed to a customer in a sales transaction related to shipping and handling as revenue and the costs incurred by the Company for shipping and handling are classified as costs of sales.

Inventories

Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market, using the first-in first-out (“FIFO”) method.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Expenditures for maintenance, repairs and renewals are charged to expense as incurred, while major improvements are capitalized. The cost of these improvements is depreciated over their estimated useful lives. Useful lives range from three to twelve years for furniture and fixtures and machinery and equipment, or if the assets are dedicated to a customer program, over the estimated life of that program, ten to twenty years for land improvements and twenty to forty years for buildings and their related improvements. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method for financial reporting purposes and accelerated methods for income tax purposes. When assets are retired or otherwise disposed, the related cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts, and any gain or loss on the disposition is included in the earnings for the current period.

Employee Benefit Plans

The Company accrues the cost of defined benefit pension plans, in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 715 “Compensation - Retirement Benefits.” The plans are funded based on the requirements and limitations of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. The majority of employees of the Company also participate in discretionary profit sharing plans administered by the Company. The Company also provides postretirement benefits to approximately 32 former employees.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company records compensation cost for share-based awards based upon fair value. The Company has elected to use the simplified method of calculating the expected term of the stock options and historical volatility to compute fair value under the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The risk-free rate for periods within the contractual life of the option is based on the U.S. zero coupon Treasury yield in effect at the time of grant. Forfeitures have been estimated based upon the Company's historical experience.

Income Taxes

The Company utilizes the asset and liability method in accounting for income taxes. Income tax expense includes U.S. and international income taxes minus tax credits and other incentives that will reduce tax expense in the year they are claimed. Deferred taxes are recognized at currently enacted tax rates for temporary differences between the financial accounting and income tax basis of assets and liabilities and operating losses and tax credit carryforwards. Valuation allowances are recorded to reduce net deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized. The Company assesses both positive and negative evidence when measuring the need for a valuation allowance. Evidence typically assessed includes the operating results for the most recent three-year period and, to a lesser extent because of inherent uncertainty, the expectations of future profitability, available tax planning strategies, the time period over which the temporary differences will reverse and taxable income in prior carryback years if carryback is permitted under the tax law. The calculation of the Company's tax liabilities also involves dealing with uncertainties in the application of complex tax laws and regulations. The Company recognizes liabilities for uncertain income tax positions based on the Company's estimate of whether, and the extent to which, additional taxes will be required. The Company reports interest and penalties related to uncertain income tax positions as income taxes.

Impairment

The Company evaluates the recoverability of long-lived assets and the related estimated remaining lives whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. Events or changes in circumstances which could cause an impairment include significant underperformance relative to the historical or projected future operating results, significant changes in the manner of the use of the assets or the strategy for the overall business or significant negative industry or economic trends. The Company records an impairment or change in useful life whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of long-lived assets may not be recoverable or the useful life has changed.

Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income is defined as net income (loss) and changes in stockholders' equity from non-owner sources which, for the Company in the periods presented, consists of pension related liability adjustments.

Statement of Cash Flows Information

Cash and cash equivalents include checking accounts and all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less.

Concentration of Risk

The Company sells products to customers primarily in the automotive and heavy truck industries. Financial instruments, which potentially subject the Company to concentration of credit risk, are primarily accounts receivable. The Company performs on-going credit evaluations of its customers' financial condition. The allowance for non-collection of accounts receivable is based on the expected collectability of all accounts receivable. Losses have historically been within management's expectations. The Company does not have financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk. Refer to Note 14-Business Segment Information for discussion of concentration of revenues.

As of October 31, 2011, the Company had approximately 1,273 employees. A total of approximately 50 employees at one of the Company's subsidiaries are covered by a collective bargaining agreement that is due to expire in November 2014.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables and payables approximate fair value because of the short maturity of those instruments. The carrying value of the Company's debt is considered to approximate the fair value of these instruments based on the borrowing rates currently available to the Company for loans with similar terms and maturities.

Derivative Financial Instruments

The Company does not engage in derivatives trading, market-making or other speculative activities. The intent of any contracts entered by the Company is to reduce exposure to currency movements affecting foreign currency purchase commitments. The Company's risks related to foreign currency exchange risks have historically not been material. The Company does not expect the effects of these risks to be material in the future based on current operating and economic conditions in the countries and markets in which it operates. These contracts are marked-to-market and the resulting gain or loss is recorded in the consolidated statements of operations. As of October 31, 2011 and 2010, there were no foreign currency forward exchange contracts outstanding.

Guarantees

The Company has certain indemnification clauses within its credit facility and certain lease agreements that are considered to be guarantees within the scope of FASB ASC Topic 460, “Guarantees”. The Company does not consider these guarantees to be probable and the Company cannot estimate the maximum exposure. Additionally, the Company's exposure to warranty-related obligations is not material.

Accounting Estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. On an ongoing basis, management reviews its estimates based upon current available information. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Prior Year Reclassification

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform with current year presentation.

Other New Accounting Standards

During fiscal 2011, several new accounting standards became effective for the Company. These new standards are included in the following topics of the FASB ASC: Topic 310, “Receivables,” Topic 605 “Revenue Recognition” and Topic 220 "Comprehensive Income." The first two standards were adopted in the first quarter of fiscal 2011 and the changes did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The last standard, "Comprehensive Income," becomes effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011, which for the Company would be the first quarter ended January 31, 2013. This standard requires that other comprehensive income be presented as either a separate statement, or as an addition to the statement of income and prohibits the presentation of other comprehensive income in the statement of shareholders' equity. As the Company has historically presented other comprehensive income as part of the statement of shareholders' equity, the Company will have to retroactively restate its financial statements for this change upon adoption of this accounting standard.