Business Combination (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Business Combinations [Abstract]

Schedule of Business Acquisitions, by Acquisition [Table Text Block]

Cash transferred to Houghton shareholders (a)		$	170,829
Cash paid to extinguish Houghton debt obligations			702,556
Fair value of common stock issued as consideration (b)			789,080
	Total fair value of consideration transferred	$	1,662,465

(a) A portion is held in escrow by a third party, subject to indemnification rights that lapse upon the achievement of certain milestones.

(b) Amount was determined based on approximately 4.3 million shares, comprising approximately 24.5% of the common stock of the Company at closing, and the closing price per share of Quaker Chemical Corporation common stock of $182.27 on August 1, 2019.

Business Acquisition Pro Forma Information [Text Block]

Unaudited Pro Forma	For the years ending
	December 31,
(as if the Combination occurred on January 1, 2018)	2019		2018
Net sales	$	1,562,427	$	1,654,588
Net income attributable to Quaker Chemical Corporation		94,537		35,337

Schedule Of Recognized Identified Assets Acquired And Liabilities Assumed [Table Text Block]

		August 1, 2019		Measurement
		(as Initially		Period		August 1, 2019
		Reported)		Adjustments		(as adjusted)
Cash and cash equivalents		$	75,821	$	—	$	75,821
Accounts receivable, net			179,745		(823)		178,922
Inventories, net			95,193		—		95,193
Prepaid expenses and other assets			11,373		(721)		10,652
Deferred tax assets			8,703		(8,703)		—
Property, plant and equipment			125,099		(9,570)		115,529
Right of use lease assets			10,747		(74)		10,673
Investments in associated companies			69,683		(3,236)		66,447
Other non-current assets			1,368		3,342		4,710
Intangible assets			1,022,500		5,900		1,028,400
Goodwill			483,921		10,994		494,915
	Total assets purchased		2,084,153		(2,891)		2,081,262
Short-term borrowings, not refinanced at closing			9,297		—		9,297
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other accrued liabilities			152,829		(2,751)		150,078
Deferred tax liabilities			213,779		(8,697)		205,082
Long-term lease liabilities			6,655		(48)		6,607
Other non-current liabilities			39,128		8,605		47,733
	Total liabilities assumed		421,688		(2,891)		418,797
	Total consideration paid for Houghton		1,662,465		—		1,662,465
	Less: cash acquired		75,821		—		75,821
	Less: fair value of common stock issued as consideration		789,080		—		789,080
	Net cash paid for Houghton	$	797,564	$	—	$	797,564

Cash and cash equivalents		$	18,981
Accounts receivable, net			15,471
Inventories, net			8,213
Prepaid expenses and other assets			4,203
Property, plant and equipment			14,981
Right of use lease assets			10,608
Intangible assets			51,088
Goodwill			29,384
	Total assets purchased		152,929
Long-term debt included current portions			485
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other accrued liabilities			13,488
Deferred tax liabilities			12,746
Long-term lease liabilities			8,594
	Total liabilities assumed		35,313
	Total consideration paid for Norman Hay		117,616
	Less: estimated purchase price settlement		3,287
	Less: cash acquired		18,981
	Net cash paid for Norman Hay	$	95,348