Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation (Policies)	3 Months Ended
Apr. 03, 2015
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Basis of Accounting, Policy	The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Euramax Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial information and with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Accordingly, they do not include all information and footnotes required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, these statements include all adjustments considered necessary for the fair presentation of all interim periods reported herein. All adjustments are of a normal recurring nature unless otherwise disclosed.
Fiscal Period, Policy	Each of our interim reporting periods, other than the fourth interim reporting period, ends on the Friday closest to the last day of the corresponding quarterly calendar period. The first quarter of 2015 and 2014 ended on April 3 and March 28, respectively. The first quarter of 2015 contains 6 additional days compared to the first quarter of 2014. Our fourth interim reporting period and our fiscal year end on December 31 regardless of the day of the week on which it falls.
Income Tax, Policy	The (benefit from) provision for income taxes for 2015 and 2014 is computed at the effective rate expected to be applicable in each respective full year using the statutory rates on a country by country basis applied to current year-to-date pre-tax earnings, adjusted for changes in valuation allowances relating to the Company’s realizability of deferred tax assets and changes in tax uncertainties.
Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, Pensions, Policy	The Company maintains a non-contributory defined benefit pension plan covering substantially all U.S. hourly employees (the "U.S. Plan"). In addition, the employees at Euramax Coated Products Limited and Ellbee Limited participate in a single employer pension plan (the "UK Plan"). The measurement date for the U.S. and UK plans is the last day of the fiscal year. The Company curtailed the accrual of participant benefits provided under the UK Plan effective March 31, 2009. This curtailment did not affect the timing for the payment of benefits earned under the UK Plan through the curtailment date. In January 2010, the Company's board of directors approved a motion to freeze future benefit accruals under the U.S. Plan.
Fair Value Measurement, Policy	The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, receivables, accounts payable and accrued expenses, and loans and notes payable approximate their fair values because of the relatively short-term maturities of these instruments. In addition to assets and liabilities that are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis, the Company records assets and liabilities at fair value on a nonrecurring basis as required by accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. Typically, adjustments made to record assets at fair value on a nonrecurring basis are the result of impairment charges. Recurring Fair Value Measurements In accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S., certain assets and liabilities are required to be recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. For the Company, the only assets and liabilities that are adjusted to fair value on a recurring basis are derivative financial instruments.
New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy	In April 2015, the FASB issued new guidance related to the presentation of debt issuance costs. The guidance requires that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. For public business entities, the guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2015, and is to be applied retrospectively. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact of implementing this guidance on the Company's financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Apr. 03, 2015

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Euramax Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial information and with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Accordingly, they do not include all information and footnotes required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, these statements include all adjustments considered necessary for the fair presentation of all interim periods reported herein. All adjustments are of a normal recurring nature unless otherwise disclosed.

Fiscal Period, Policy

Each of our interim reporting periods, other than the fourth interim reporting period, ends on the Friday closest to the last day of the corresponding quarterly calendar period. The first quarter of 2015 and 2014 ended on April 3 and March 28, respectively. The first quarter of 2015 contains 6 additional days compared to the first quarter of 2014. Our fourth interim reporting period and our fiscal year end on December 31 regardless of the day of the week on which it falls.

Income Tax, Policy

The (benefit from) provision for income taxes for 2015 and 2014 is computed at the effective rate expected to be applicable in each respective full year using the statutory rates on a country by country basis applied to current year-to-date pre-tax earnings, adjusted for changes in valuation allowances relating to the Company’s realizability of deferred tax assets and changes in tax uncertainties.

Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, Pensions, Policy

The Company maintains a non-contributory defined benefit pension plan covering substantially all U.S. hourly employees (the "U.S. Plan"). In addition, the employees at Euramax Coated Products Limited and Ellbee Limited participate in a single employer pension plan (the "UK Plan"). The measurement date for the U.S. and UK plans is the last day of the fiscal year. The Company curtailed the accrual of participant benefits provided under the UK Plan effective March 31, 2009. This curtailment did not affect the timing for the payment of benefits earned under the UK Plan through the curtailment date. In January 2010, the Company's board of directors approved a motion to freeze future benefit accruals under the U.S. Plan.

Fair Value Measurement, Policy

The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, receivables, accounts payable and accrued expenses, and loans and notes payable approximate their fair values because of the relatively short-term maturities of these instruments.

In addition to assets and liabilities that are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis, the Company records assets and liabilities at fair value on a nonrecurring basis as required by accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. Typically, adjustments made to record assets at fair value on a nonrecurring basis are the result of impairment charges.

Recurring Fair Value Measurements

In accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S., certain assets and liabilities are required to be recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. For the Company, the only assets and liabilities that are adjusted to fair value on a recurring basis are derivative financial instruments.

New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy

In April 2015, the FASB issued new guidance related to the presentation of debt issuance costs. The guidance requires that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. For public business entities, the guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2015, and is to be applied retrospectively. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact of implementing this guidance on the Company's financial position, results of operations, and cash flows.

- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for determining an entity's fiscal year or other fiscal period. This disclosure may include identification of the fiscal period end-date, the length of the fiscal period, any reporting period lag between the entity and its subsidiaries, or equity investees. If a reporting lag exists, the closing date of the entity having a different period end is generally noted, along with an explanation of the necessity for using different closing dates. Any intervening events that materially affect the entity's financial position or results of operations are generally also disclosed.

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- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for income taxes, which may include its accounting policies for recognizing and measuring deferred tax assets and liabilities and related valuation allowances, recognizing investment tax credits, operating loss carryforwards, tax credit carryforwards, and other carryforwards, methodologies for determining its effective income tax rate and the characterization of interest and penalties in the financial statements.

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- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for pension plans. This accounting policy may address (1) the types of plans sponsored by the entity (2) groups that participate in (or are covered by) each plan (3) how plan assets, liabilities and expenses are measured, including the use of any actuaries and (4) significant assumptions used by the entity to value plan assets and liabilities and how such assumptions are derived.

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