Schedule I (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 28, 2012	Jun. 29, 2012	Mar. 30, 2012	Dec. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jul. 01, 2011	Apr. 01, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Condensed Balance Sheet [Abstract]
Investment in and advances to subsidiaries	$ 0				$ 0				$ 0	$ 0
Interest and other payables	30,667				33,425				30,667	33,425
Amounts due to affiliates	0				0				0	0
Total liabilities	680,414				672,539				680,414	672,539
Class A common stock—$1.00 par value; 600,000 shares authorized, 188,938 issued and outstanding in 2012 and 185,388 issued and outstanding in 2011	189				185				189	185
Class B convertible restricted voting common stock—$1.00 par value; 600,000 shares authorized, no shares issued in 2012 and 2011	0				0				0	0
Additional paid-in capital	721,869				718,837				721,869	718,837
Accumulated loss	(818,855)				(782,087)				(818,855)	(782,087)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	10,805				9,772				10,805	9,772
Total shareholders' (deficit) equity	(85,992)				(53,293)				(85,992)	(53,293)
Total liabilities and shareholders' (deficit) equity	594,422				619,246				594,422	619,246
Condensed Income Statement [Abstract]
General and administrative									(83,492)	(91,421)	(90,642)
Interest expense									(54,858)	(55,579)	(68,333)
Operating Income (Loss)	(3,034)	6,610	8,065	(286)	(2,863)	3,776	8,569	812	11,355	10,294	18,968
Provision for income taxes									(1,723)	3,315	(14,461)
Net loss	(11,881)	(1,175)	(15,592)	(8,120)	(25,215)	(27,045)	(2,126)	(8,331)	(36,768)	(62,717)	(38,540)
Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Operations [Abstract]
Net loss	(11,881)	(1,175)	(15,592)	(8,120)	(25,215)	(27,045)	(2,126)	(8,331)	(36,768)	(62,717)	(38,540)
Foreign currency translation adjustment									80	2,380	(7,256)
Pension liability adjustments, net of tax									953	(5,837)	3,329
Amortization of losses on derivative instruments, net of tax									0	0	2,904
Total other comprehensive income (loss)									1,033	(3,457)	(1,023)
Total comprehensive loss									(35,735)	(66,174)	(39,563)
Condensed Statement of Cash Flow [Abstract]
Net cash provided by operating activities									3,985	18,596	4,133
Net cash provided by investing activities									(12,264)	(9,717)	(9,482)
Net cash provided by financing activities									8,246	(17,634)	(37,046)
Income taxes paid, net									5,488	107	1,917
Interest paid, net									52,157	41,364	42,774
Euramax Holdings, Inc. (Parent Company only)
Condensed Balance Sheet [Abstract]
Investment in and advances to subsidiaries	(81,316)				(48,935)				(81,316)	(48,935)
Interest and other payables	10				96				10	96
Amounts due to affiliates	4,666				4,262				4,666	4,262
Total liabilities	4,676				4,358				4,676	4,358
Class A common stock—$1.00 par value; 600,000 shares authorized, 188,938 issued and outstanding in 2012 and 185,388 issued and outstanding in 2011	189				185				189	185
Class B convertible restricted voting common stock—$1.00 par value; 600,000 shares authorized, no shares issued in 2012 and 2011	0				0				0	0
Additional paid-in capital	721,869				718,837				721,869	718,837
Accumulated loss	(818,855)				(782,087)				(818,855)	(782,087)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	10,805				9,772				10,805	9,772
Total shareholders' (deficit) equity	(85,992)				(53,293)				(85,992)	(53,293)
Total liabilities and shareholders' (deficit) equity	(81,316)				(48,935)				(81,316)	(48,935)
Condensed Income Statement [Abstract]
General and administrative									(318)	(594)	(510)
Interest expense									0	0	0
Operating Income (Loss)									(318)	(594)	(510)
Provision for income taxes									0	0	0
Net loss before equity in net losses of subsidiaries									(318)	(594)	(510)
Equity in losses of subsidiaries, net of tax									(36,450)	(62,123)	(38,030)
Net loss									(36,768)	(62,717)	(38,540)
Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Operations [Abstract]
Net loss									(36,768)	(62,717)	(38,540)
Foreign currency translation adjustment									80	2,380	(7,256)
Pension liability adjustments, net of tax									953	(5,837)	3,329
Amortization of losses on derivative instruments, net of tax									0	0	2,904
Total other comprehensive income (loss)									1,033	(3,457)	(1,023)
Total comprehensive loss									(35,735)	(66,174)	(39,563)
Condensed Statement of Cash Flow [Abstract]
Net cash provided by operating activities									0	0	0
Net cash provided by investing activities									0	0	0
Net cash provided by financing activities									0	0	0
Income taxes paid, net									0	0	0
Interest paid, net									$ 0	$ 0	$ 0