Income Taxes and Uncertain Tax Positions (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Effective Income Tax Rate, Continuing Operations			27.30%	30.50%
Unrecognized Tax Benefits	$ 10,628		$ 10,628		$ 11,845
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Interest on Income Taxes Expense	(55)	$ (6)	(216)	$ (64)
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties Expense	(1)	(99)	187	(1)
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Interest on Income Taxes Accrued	1,508		1,508		1,868
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties Accrued	1,900		1,900		$ 1,845
Tax Adjustments, Settlements, and Unusual Provisions	793	$ 802	1,533	$ 1,877
Maximum [Member]
Significant Change In Unrecognized Tax Benefits Is Reasonably Possible [Line Items]
Decrease In Unrecognized Tax Benefits Is Reasonably Possible	1,900		1,900
Maximum [Member] | Year End December 31, 2015 [Member]
Significant Change In Unrecognized Tax Benefits Is Reasonably Possible [Line Items]
Decrease In Unrecognized Tax Benefits Is Reasonably Possible	1,900		1,900
Minimum [Member]
Significant Change In Unrecognized Tax Benefits Is Reasonably Possible [Line Items]
Decrease In Unrecognized Tax Benefits Is Reasonably Possible	1,800		1,800
Minimum [Member] | Year End December 31, 2015 [Member]
Significant Change In Unrecognized Tax Benefits Is Reasonably Possible [Line Items]
Decrease In Unrecognized Tax Benefits Is Reasonably Possible	$ 1,800		$ 1,800
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Member]
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]
Income Tax Examination Year Under Examination			2011
Foreign Tax Authority [Member] | The Netherlands [Member]
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]
Income Tax Examination Year Under Examination			2009
Income Tax Examination Description			In October 2015, subsequent to the date of these financial statements, the Dutch tax authorities notified the Company that they intend to assess the Company's Netherlands subsidiary for additional income taxes related to the 2011 tax year.
Foreign Tax Authority [Member] | United Kingdom [Member]
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]
Income Tax Examination Year Under Examination			2009
Foreign Tax Authority [Member] | Brazil [Member]
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]
Income Tax Examination Year Under Examination			2000
Foreign Tax Authority [Member] | Spain [Member]
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]
Income Tax Examination Year Under Examination			2011
Foreign Tax Authority [Member] | China [Member]
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]
Income Tax Examination Year Under Examination			2010
Foreign Tax Authority [Member] | Italy [Member]
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]
Income Tax Examination Year Under Examination			2007
Income Tax Examination Description			During 2012, the Italian tax authorities initiated a transfer pricing audit of the Company’s Italian subsidiary, Quaker Italia S.r.l., relating to the tax years 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010. During the second quarter of 2015, the Italian tax authorities completed an audit of the Company’s Italian subsidiary, Quaker Chemical S.r.l. (formerly NP Coil Dexter Industries, S.r.l.), relating to the tax years 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013, and proposed audit adjustments for those years. There have been no significant developments during the third quarter of 2015 related to either of these Italian tax assessments.
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member]
Income Tax Examination [Line Items]
Income Tax Examination Year Under Examination			1993