Pension and Profit Sharing - Pension Plan Assets by Fair Value Hiearchy (Details) - USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Pension plan assets	$ 1,417,572	$ 1,684,535	$ 1,703,602
Money Market Fund
Pension plan assets	66,914	67,909
Acme United Common Stock
Pension plan assets	174,000	199,900
Equity Common and Collected Funds
Pension plan assets	652,135	953,140
Fixed Income Common and Collected Funds
Pension plan assets	524,523	463,586
Level 1
Pension plan assets	240,914	267,809
Level 1 | Money Market Fund
Pension plan assets	66,914	67,909
Level 1 | Acme United Common Stock
Pension plan assets	174,000	199,900
Level 2
Pension plan assets	1,176,658	1,416,726
Level 2 | Equity Common and Collected Funds
Pension plan assets	652,135	953,140
Level 2 | Fixed Income Common and Collected Funds
Pension plan assets	$ 524,523	$ 463,586