Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net revenues	$ 224,776	$ 242,107	$ 213,112
Cost of sales	184,320	198,060	176,266
Gross profit	40,456	44,047	36,846
Operating expenses
Research and development costs	2,714	2,839	2,564
Selling, general and administrative expenses	35,615	35,707	34,547
Impairment of intangibles	8,112	5,736
Total operating expenses	46,441	44,282	37,111
Operating loss	(5,985)	(235)	(265)
Other income (expense)
Interest expense	(4,603)	(5,508)	(6,498)
Interest income	229	168
Change in fair value of securities held	5,454	(5,494)
Foreign currency transaction loss	(844)	(814)	(1,149)
Other income (loss)	20	(374)	367
Total other income (expense)	256	(12,022)	(7,280)
Loss before income taxes and loss in non-marketable equity interest from continuing operations	(5,729)	(12,257)	(7,545)
Income tax expense (benefit) from continuing operations	2,763	511	(118)
(Loss) income in equity investments, net of taxes		(409)	360
Loss from continuing operations	(8,492)	(13,177)	(7,067)
Discontinued operations: (Note 26)
Loss from operations of discontinued operations (including loss on disposal of $1,302 in 2017)			(742)
Income tax benefit			(5)
Loss on discontinued operations			(737)
Net loss	(8,492)	(13,177)	(7,804)
Loss attributable to noncontrolling interest			(274)
Loss attributable to shareholders of Manitex International, Inc.	$ (8,492)	$ (13,177)	$ (8,078)
Earnings (loss) Per Share Basic
Loss from continuing operations attributable to shareholders of Manitex International, Inc.	$ (0.43)	$ (0.72)	$ (0.43)
Loss from discontinued operations attributable to shareholders of Manitex International, Inc.			(0.06)
Loss attributable to shareholders of Manitex International, Inc.	(0.43)	(0.72)	(0.49)
Earnings (loss) Per Share Diluted
Loss from continuing operations attributable to shareholders of Manitex International, Inc.	(0.43)	(0.72)	(0.43)
Loss from discontinued operations attributable to shareholders of Manitex International, Inc.			(0.06)
Loss attributable to shareholders of Manitex International, Inc.	$ (0.43)	$ (0.72)	$ (0.49)
Weighted average common shares outstanding
Basic	19,687,414	18,409,296	16,548,444
Diluted	19,687,414	18,409,296	16,548,444