Consolidated Statements of Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Total Stockholders' Equity	Common Stock Class A Common Stock	Common Stock Class B Common Stock	Capital in Excess of Par Value	Retained Earnings	Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment	Deferred Gain (Loss) on Available for Sale Securities	Deferred Gain (Loss) on Cash Flow Hedging	Pension and Postretirement Plan Adjustment
Balance, beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2016		$ 220,293	$ 5,208	$ 1,571	$ 0	$ 239,441	$ (7,533)	$ 1,893	$ 393	$ (20,680)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock-based compensation		4,520	73		4,447
Conversion of Class B to Class A shares		0	1	(1)
Net income	$ 30,337	30,337				30,337
Cash dividends on common stock		(6,682)				(6,682)
Current period other comprehensive income (loss)		4,851					1,725	834	1,543	749
Reclassification adjustment to net income		(1,787)							(2,369)	582
Hamilton Beach Brands Holding Company stock dividend (See Note 3)		(32,084)				(46,606)	5,808		433	8,281
Balance, end of period at Dec. 31, 2017		219,448	5,282	1,570	4,447	216,490	0	2,727	0	(11,068)
Balance, beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2017		219,448	5,282	1,570	4,447	216,490	0	2,727	0	(11,068)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
ASU 2018-02 adoption (See Note 2)	160					2,891				(2,731)
Stock-based compensation		3,958	108		3,850
Purchase of treasury shares		(1,294)	(39)		(1,255)
Conversion of Class B to Class A shares		0	1	(1)
Net income	34,785	34,785				34,785
Cash dividends on common stock		(4,578)				(4,578)
Current period other comprehensive income (loss)		(301)								(301)
Reclassification adjustment to net income		489								489
Balance, end of period at Dec. 31, 2018		$ 250,704	$ 5,352	$ 1,569	$ 7,042	250,352	$ 0	0	$ 0	$ (13,611)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Cumulative effect of new accounting principles on retained earnings | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09	(1,963)					(1,963)
Cumulative effect of new accounting principles on retained earnings | Accounting Standards Update 2016-01	$ 0					$ 2,727		$ (2,727)