Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 91,063	$ 107,494
Operating costs and expenses:
Costs of products sold (excluding depreciation and amortization)	70,160	90,221
Selling and administrative	11,830	13,885
Depreciation and amortization	4,699	5,259
Impairment charge	0	10,082
Loss on disposal of assets	23	6
Total operating expenses	86,712	119,453
Income (loss) from continuing operations	4,351	(11,959)
Other income (expense):
Investment-related income	4	40
Interest expense	(1,216)	(1,285)
Other – net	(1,320)	1,296
Total other income (expense)	(2,532)	51
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	1,819	(11,908)
Income tax benefit (provision)	2,783	(643)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	4,602	(12,551)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	(2,242)
Net income (loss)	4,602	(14,793)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	460	355
Net income (loss) attributable to Ampco-Pittsburgh	$ 4,142	$ (15,148)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations per share attributable to Ampco-Pittsburgh common shareholders:
Basic	$ 0.33	$ (1.03)
Diluted	0.33	(1.03)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, per share attributable to Ampco-Pittsburgh common shareholders:
Basic	0.00	(0.18)
Diluted	0.00	(0.18)
Net income (loss) per share attributable to Ampco-Pittsburgh common shareholder:
Basic	0.33	(1.21)
Diluted	$ 0.33	$ (1.21)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic	12,656	12,497
Diluted	12,672	12,497