Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income (unaudited) [Abstract]
Net income	$ 7,542	$ 8,087	$ 7,259	$ 10,087
Other comprehensive (loss) income:
Amortization of unrealized pension and postretirement (loss) gain, net of tax of $1 and $72 for the three months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and $3 and $82 for the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively	(4)	274	(8)	304
Unrealized gain (loss) on investments, net of tax of $170 and $31 for the three months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and $263 and $104 for the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively	627	(154)	1,595	(937)
Unrealized (loss) gain on interest rate swaps, net of tax of $310 and $162 for the three months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and $493 and $22 for the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively	(931)	451	(1,407)	(75)
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(308)	571	180	(708)
Comprehensive income	7,234	8,658	7,439	9,379
Amounts attributable to noncontrolling interests	(6,368)	(4,559)	(9,589)	(6,038)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Standard Diversified Inc.	$ 866	$ 4,099	$ (2,150)	$ 3,341