Commitments and Contingencies	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies	Commitments and Contingencies Leases The Company has various noncancellable operating leases for buildings, office space and equipment. Rent expense was $11,398, $13,464 and $19,678 for 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The decrease in rent expense during 2013 was primarily attributed to the divestiture of BDNA in the second quarter of 2013. Minimum rental commitments under noncancellable leases in years 2014 through 2018 are $8,581, $5,358, $1,821, $909 and $683, respectively, and $2,921 thereafter. The rental expense and minimum rental commitments of leases with step rent provisions are recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Product Warranties The Company provides product warranties in connection with the sale of certain products. From time to time, the Company is subject to customer claims with respect to product warranties. Product warranty liabilities were not material as of December 31, 2013 or 2012. The Company was named in a lawsuit arising out of an alleged breach of contract and implied warranty by a customer of Toolcom Suppliers Limited (“Toolcom”), a business previously included within the former Logistics and Manufacturing Services segment, related to the sale of certain products prior to the Company’s 2005 acquisition of Toolcom. In 2006, the plaintiff filed the lawsuit in civil court in Scotland and asserted that certain products sold were not fit for a particular use. The Company settled the lawsuit during the first quarter of 2013 with an outcome that did not have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements. The final settlement expense is included within the income from operations of discontinued businesses in the consolidated statements of income for the year ended December 31, 2013. Income Taxes On April 16, 2013, the United States Tax Court rendered an unfavorable decision in the matter Barnes Group Inc. and Subsidiaries v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue (“Tax Court Decision”). The Tax Court rejected the Company's objections and imposed penalties. The case involved IRS proposed adjustments of approximately 16,500, plus a 20% penalty and interest for the tax years 1998, 2000 and 2001. The case arose out of an Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) audit for the tax years 2000 through 2002. The adjustment relates to the federal taxation of foreign income of certain foreign subsidiaries. The Company filed an administrative protest of these adjustments. In the third quarter of 2009, the Company was informed that its protest was denied and a tax assessment was received from the Appeals Office of the IRS. Subsequently, in November 2009, the Company filed a petition against the IRS in the United States Tax Court, contesting the tax assessment. A trial was held and all briefs were filed in 2012. In April 2013 the Tax Court Decision was then issued rendering an unfavorable decision against the Company and imposing penalties. As a result of the unfavorable Tax Court Decision, the Company has recorded an additional tax charge during 2013 for $16,428. In November 2013, the Company made a cash payment of approximately $12,700 related to tax, interest and penalties and utilized a portion of its net operating losses. The Company also submitted a notice of appeal of the Tax Court Decision to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. The Company filed its formal appeal with the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit on February 13, 2014. The Company does not expect a decision until 2015.

Commitments and Contingencies

Leases

The Company has various noncancellable operating leases for buildings, office space and equipment. Rent expense was $11,398, $13,464 and $19,678 for 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The decrease in rent expense during 2013 was primarily attributed to the divestiture of BDNA in the second quarter of 2013. Minimum rental commitments under noncancellable leases in years 2014 through 2018 are $8,581, $5,358, $1,821, $909 and $683, respectively, and $2,921 thereafter. The rental expense and minimum rental commitments of leases with step rent provisions are recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

Product Warranties

The Company provides product warranties in connection with the sale of certain products. From time to time, the Company is subject to customer claims with respect to product warranties. Product warranty liabilities were not material as of December 31, 2013 or 2012.

The Company was named in a lawsuit arising out of an alleged breach of contract and implied warranty by a customer of Toolcom Suppliers Limited (“Toolcom”), a business previously included within the former Logistics and Manufacturing Services segment, related to the sale of certain products prior to the Company’s 2005 acquisition of Toolcom. In 2006, the plaintiff filed the lawsuit in civil court in Scotland and asserted that certain products sold were not fit for a particular use. The Company settled the lawsuit during the first quarter of 2013 with an outcome that did not have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements. The final settlement expense is included within the income from operations of discontinued businesses in the consolidated statements of income for the year ended December 31, 2013.

Income Taxes

On April 16, 2013, the United States Tax Court rendered an unfavorable decision in the matter Barnes Group Inc. and Subsidiaries v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue (“Tax Court Decision”). The Tax Court rejected the Company's objections and imposed penalties. The case involved IRS proposed adjustments of approximately 16,500, plus a 20% penalty and interest for the tax years 1998, 2000 and 2001.

The case arose out of an Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) audit for the tax years 2000 through 2002. The adjustment relates to the federal taxation of foreign income of certain foreign subsidiaries. The Company filed an administrative protest of these adjustments. In the third quarter of 2009, the Company was informed that its protest was denied and a tax assessment was received from the Appeals Office of the IRS. Subsequently, in November 2009, the Company filed a petition against the IRS in the United States Tax Court, contesting the tax assessment. A trial was held and all briefs were filed in 2012. In April 2013 the Tax Court Decision was then issued rendering an unfavorable decision against the Company and imposing penalties. As a result of the unfavorable Tax Court Decision, the Company has recorded an additional tax charge during 2013 for $16,428.

In November 2013, the Company made a cash payment of approximately $12,700 related to tax, interest and penalties and utilized a portion of its net operating losses. The Company also submitted a notice of appeal of the Tax Court Decision to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. The Company filed its formal appeal with the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit on February 13, 2014. The Company does not expect a decision until 2015.