Basis of Presentation	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2013
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	Note 1 — Basis of Presentation In the opinion of management, the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include all adjustments necessary to present fairly the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of Acme United Corporation (the “Company”). These adjustments are of a normal, recurring nature. However, the financial statements do not include all of the disclosures normally required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America or those normally made in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K. Please refer to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 for such disclosures. The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2012 was derived from the audited consolidated balance sheet as of that date. The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. The information included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and the financial statements and notes thereto, included in the Company’s 2012 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Company has evaluated events and transactions subsequent to June 30, 2013 and through the date these condensed consolidated financial statements were included in this Form 10-Q and filed with the SEC. Recent accounting pronouncements In February 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued a final rule related to the reporting of amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income that requires entities to report, either on their income statement or in a footnote to their financial statements, the effects on earnings from items that are reclassified out of other comprehensive income. This standard update is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2012. The adoption of this accounting standard did not have an impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Basis of Presentation

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2013

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Note 1 — Basis of Presentation

In the opinion of management, the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include all adjustments necessary to present fairly the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of Acme United Corporation (the “Company”). These adjustments are of a normal, recurring nature. However, the financial statements do not include all of the disclosures normally required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America or those normally made in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K. Please refer to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 for such disclosures. The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2012 was derived from the audited consolidated balance sheet as of that date. The results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. The information included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and the financial statements and notes thereto, included in the Company’s 2012 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

The Company has evaluated events and transactions subsequent to June 30, 2013 and through the date these condensed consolidated financial statements were included in this Form 10-Q and filed with the SEC.

Recent accounting pronouncements

In February 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued a final rule related to the reporting of amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income that requires entities to report, either on their income statement or in a footnote to their financial statements, the effects on earnings from items that are reclassified out of other comprehensive income. This standard update is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2012. The adoption of this accounting standard did not have an impact on our consolidated financial statements.