Pension and Profit Sharing - Pension Plan Assets by Fair Value Hiearchy (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Pension plan assets	$ 1,684,535	$ 1,703,602	$ 1,325,402
Money Market Fund
Pension plan assets	67,909	8,322
Acme United Common Stock
Pension plan assets	199,900	149,000
Equity Common and Collected Funds
Pension plan assets	953,140	1,054,416
Fixed Income Common and Collected Funds
Pension plan assets	463,586	491,864
Level 1
Pension plan assets	267,809	157,322
Level 1 | Money Market Fund
Pension plan assets	67,909	8,322
Level 1 | Acme United Common Stock
Pension plan assets	199,900	149,000
Level 2
Pension plan assets	1,416,726	1,546,280
Level 2 | Equity Common and Collected Funds
Pension plan assets	953,140	1,054,416
Level 2 | Fixed Income Common and Collected Funds
Pension plan assets	$ 463,586	$ 491,864