Debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Debt [Abstract]
Current maturities of long-term debt	$ 4,769	$ 4,528
Long-term debt	5,857	$ 5,154
Osborn [Member]
Debt [Abstract]
Amount of credit facility	$ 6,430
Unused facility fee as a percentage of line of credit	0.75%
Under utilized facility resulting in unused facility fee	50.00%
Amount outstanding under overdraft protection coverage	$ 127
Performance bank guarantee, subsidiary obligation to fulfill contracts	2,186
Available credit under the facility	$ 4,116
Interest rate at period end	10.50%
Astec Brazil Working Capital Loans [Member]
Debt [Abstract]
Borrowings outstanding	$ 9,180
Astec Brazil Working Capital Loans [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Debt [Abstract]
Maturity date	Dec. 31, 2016
Debt instrument, interest rate	10.40%
Astec Brazil Working Capital Loans [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Debt [Abstract]
Maturity date	Apr. 30, 2024
Debt instrument, interest rate	20.80%
Astec Brazil Equipment Financing [Member]
Debt [Abstract]
Term loan	5 years
Astec Brazil Equipment Financing [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Debt [Abstract]
Debt instrument, interest rate	3.50%
Astec Brazil Equipment Financing [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Debt [Abstract]
Debt instrument, interest rate	16.30%
Astec Brazil Working Capital Loans and Equipment Financing [Member]
Debt [Abstract]
Current maturities of long-term debt	$ 4,769
Long-term debt	$ 5,857
South American Prime Rate [Member] \| Osborn [Member]
Debt [Abstract]
Basis spread on variable rate	0.25%
Wells Fargo [Member]
Debt [Abstract]
Borrowings outstanding	$ 0
Amount of letters of credit outstanding	17,158
Line of credit, additional borrowing capacity	$ 82,842
Term loan	5 years
Maturity date	Apr. 30, 2017
Interest rate at period end	1.22%
Wells Fargo [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Debt [Abstract]
Amount of credit facility	$ 100,000
Sub-limit for letters of credit	25,000
Wells Fargo [Member] \| Astec Brazil Working Capital Loans [Member]
Debt [Abstract]
Contingent liabilities for letters of credit issued on behalf of foreign subsidiaries	$ 11,874
Wells Fargo [Member] \| LIBOR [Member]
Debt [Abstract]
Additional rate over base, percentage	0.75%
Unused facility fee as a percentage of line of credit	0.175%
Equipment Financing Loans [Member] \| Astec Brazil [Member]
Debt [Abstract]
Borrowings outstanding	$ 1,446
Equipment Financing Loans [Member] \| Astec Brazil [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Debt [Abstract]
Maturity date	Sep. 30, 2018
Equipment Financing Loans [Member] \| Astec Brazil [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Debt [Abstract]
Maturity date	Apr. 30, 2020

Element represents amount outstanding under overdraft protection coverage.

No definition available.

Name:	aste_AmountOutstandingUnderOverdraftProtectionCoverage
Namespace Prefix:	aste_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit issued on behalf of foreign subsidiaries.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aste_ContingentLiabilitiesForLettersOfCreditIssuedOnBehalfOfForeignSubsidiaries
Namespace Prefix:	aste_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Additional borrowing capacity under the credit facility due to a new amended and restated credit agreement between the Company and the Wells Fargo.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aste_LineOfCreditAdditionalBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	aste_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The additional percentage interest rate above the base rate of LIBOR, Prime or whatever the base rate is based on.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aste_LineOfCreditFacilityAdditionalRateOverBasePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	aste_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Performance bank guarantee issued by foreign subsidiaries banks to foreign subsidiaries customers.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aste_PerformanceBankGuaranteeSubsidiary
Namespace Prefix:	aste_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The maximum dollar amount of letters of credit that can be issued against the primary line of credit facility.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aste_SublimitForLettersOfCredit
Namespace Prefix:	aste_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The under utilized credit facility resulting in the unused facility fee, stated as a percentage.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	aste_UnderUtilizedFacilityResultingInUnusedFacilityFee
Namespace Prefix:	aste_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Period of time between issuance and maturity of debt instrument, in PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTerm
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current and noncurrent portions of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(22))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCredit
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Date the credit facility terminates, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityExpirationDate1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The effective interest rate at the end of the reporting period.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityInterestRateAtPeriodEnd
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of borrowing capacity currently available under the credit facility (current borrowing capacity less the amount of borrowings outstanding).

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityRemainingBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The fee, expressed as a percentage of the line of credit facility, for available but unused credit capacity under the credit facility.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityUnusedCapacityCommitmentFeePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebtByCurrentAndNoncurrentAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, after unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt, classified as current. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebtCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount after unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs of long-term debt classified as noncurrent and excluding amounts to be repaid within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=aste_OsbornEngineeredProductsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=aste_AstecBrazilWorkingCapitalLoansMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=aste_AstecBrazilEquipmentFinancingMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=aste_AstecBrazilWorkingCapitalLoansAndEquipmentFinancingMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableRateAxis=aste_SouthAmericanPrimeRateMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis=aste_WellsFargoMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableRateAxis=us-gaap_LondonInterbankOfferedRateLIBORMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=us-gaap_LoansPayableMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=aste_AstecBrazilMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: