Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012 AirCraft
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of Boeing aircraft subject to lawsuit	21
Estimate of Possible Loss	$ 833,000,000
Ducommun AeroStructures | El Mirage and Monrovia, California
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Reserve for estimated liability	1,509,000
Ducommun AeroStructures | Casmalia and West Covina, California
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Reserve for estimated liability	611,000
Possible Loss, minimum	611,000
Possible Loss, maximum	3,300,000
For each false claim made on or before September 28, 1999
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Civil penalty	10,000
For each false claim made on or after September 28, 1999
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Civil penalty	$ 11,000