Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Jan. 31, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Document period end date	Dec. 31, 2018
Amendment flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2018
Document Period Focus	FY
Current fiscal year end date	--12-31
Entity central index key	0000081362
Entity current reporting status	Yes
Entity filer category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity registrant name	Quaker Chemical Corporation
Entity voluntary filers	No
Entity well known seasoned issuer	Yes
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity common stock shares outstanding		13,337,601
Entity public float			$ 2,037,718,906
Trading Symbol	KWR