Stock Based Compensation - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Share Based Compensation [Abstract]
Exercised Options, Instrinsic Value	$ 0	$ 200
Option Award Vesting Period	3 years
Share Based Compensation [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Expense in Period, Stock Option Awards	$ 1,798	$ 1,685
ESPP: Purchase Price Percentage	85.00%
ESPP: Discount from Market Price	15.00%
ESPP: Maximum Ownership of Outstanding Shares	An employee whose stock ownership of the Company exceeds five percent of the outstanding common stock is not eligible to participate in this plan.
D S O P 2013 [Member]
Share Based Compensation [Line Items]
Director Stock Ownership Plan Maximum Number of Shares Authorized Under Plan	75,000
Director Stock Ownership Plan Terms	Under the Plan, each director who, on May 1 of the applicable calendar year, owns less than 400% of the annual cash retainer for the applicable calendar year, divided by the average of the closing price of a share of Quaker Common Stock as reported by the composite tape of the New York Stock Exchange for the previous calendar year (the “Threshold Amount”), is required to receive 75% of the annual cash retainer in Quaker common stock and 25% of the retainer in cash, unless the director elects to receive a greater percentage of Quaker common stock (up to 100%) of the annual cash retainer for the applicable year. Each director who owns more than the Threshold Amount may elect to receive common stock in payment of a percentage (up to 100%) of the annual cash retainer.
Director Retainer Annual Fee	$ 100
Options Granted in Current Year [Member]
Share Based Compensation [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Expense in Period, Stock Option Awards	100
Unrecognized Share-Based Compensation Expense, Stock Option Awards	1,000
Options Granted in Previous Year [Member]
Share Based Compensation [Line Items]
Unrecognized Share-Based Compensation Expense, Stock Option Awards	500
Options Granted in Second Previous Year [Member]
Share Based Compensation [Line Items]
Unrecognized Share-Based Compensation Expense, Stock Option Awards	200
Restricted Stock LTIP Plan [Member]
Share Based Compensation [Line Items]
Unrecognized Share-based Compensation Expense, Nonvested Stock Award	$ 4,500
Weighted Average Remaining Life, Nonvested Stock Awards	2 years
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) LTIP Plan [Member]
Share Based Compensation [Line Items]
Unrecognized Share-based Compensation Expense, Nonvested Stock Award	$ 200
Weighted Average Remaining Life, Nonvested Stock Awards	2 years 1 month

Total annual director retainer fee

No definition available.

Name:	kwr_DirectorRetainerAnnualFee
Namespace Prefix:	kwr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Description of the director retainer fee in company stock and cash

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	kwr_DirectorStockOwnershipCashRetainer
Namespace Prefix:	kwr_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	kwr_ShareBasedCompensationLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	kwr_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Description of the maximum number of shares to be held per employee as a percentage of outstanding common stock

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	kwr_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardMaximumNumberOfSharesPercentagePerEmployee
Namespace Prefix:	kwr_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the expense recognized during the period arising from equity-based compensation arrangements (for example, shares of stock, unit, stock options or other equity instruments) with employees, directors and certain consultants qualifying for treatment as employees.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 14.F)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27013229&loc=d3e301413-122809

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5047-113901

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (h)(1)(i)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)
-Number Topic 14
-Section F

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Weighted average period over which unrecognized compensation is expected to be recognized for equity-based compensation plans, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedPeriodForRecognition1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Unrecognized cost of unvested share-based awards, other than options, awarded to employees as compensation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedShareBasedAwardsOtherThanOptions
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Unrecognized cost of unvested options awarded to employees as compensation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedStockOptions
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Estimated period over which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the equity-based payment award, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardRequisiteServicePeriod1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Discount rate from fair value on purchase date that participants pay for shares.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of accumulated difference between fair value of underlying shares on dates of exercise and exercise price on options exercised (or share units converted) into shares.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The maximum number of shares (or other type of equity) that have been approved for issuance in the equity-based payment transaction.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 50
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51659978&loc=d3e25284-112666

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedGoodsAndNonemployeeServicesTransactionSharesApprovedForIssuance
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Purchase price of common stock expressed as a percentage of its fair value.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PlanNameAxis=kwr_DSOP2013Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis=kwr_StockOptionsCompensationExpenseCYMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis=kwr_StockOptionsCompensationExpensePY1Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis=kwr_StockOptionsCompensationExpensePY2Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis=us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis=us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: