Document And Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Apr. 30, 2013
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2013
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2013
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Entity Registrant Name	BLYTH INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000921503
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Document Fiscal Year Focus	--12-31
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		16,005,304