Document and Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Oct. 31, 2019
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document type	10-Q
Document period end date	Sep. 30, 2019
Entity file number	001-12019
Entity registrant name	QUAKER CHEMICAL CORPORATION
Entity tax identification number	23-0993790
Entity address, address line 1	One Quaker Park
Entity address, address line 2	901 E. Hector Street
Entity address, city or town	Conshohocken
Entity address, state or province	PA
Entity address, postal zip code	19428 – 2380
City area code	610
Local phone number	832-4000
Trading symbol	KWR
Entity filer category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity small business	false
Entity emerging growth company	false
Entity current reporting status	Yes
Amendment flag	false
Document fiscal year focus	2019
Document period focus	Q3
Entity common stock shares outstanding		17,732,310
Current fiscal year end date	--12-31
Entity central index key	0000081362
Entity shell company	false
Document transition report	false
Document quarterly report	true
Entity incorporation state country code	PA
Security exchange name	NYSE
Security 12b title	Common Stock, $1 par value
Entity interactive data current	Yes