Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Mar. 13, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2014
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2014
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Trading Symbol	CRV
Entity Registrant Name	COAST DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000728303
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		5,207,180
Entity Public Float			$ 13,406,000