Business Combination (Tables)	12 Months Ended
Business Combination (Tables)	Dec. 31, 2020
Houghton [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Schedule of fair value of consideration transferred in the Combination [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 24.5 % of the common stock of the Company immediately after the closing, and the closing price per share of Quaker Chemical Corporation common stock of $ 182.27 on August 1, 2019.
Schedule of unaudited Pro Forma [Text Block]	For the years ending Unaudited Pro Forma 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 estimated fair values of net assets acquired [Table Text Block]	Measurement August 1, Period August 1, 2019 2019 (1) Adjustments (as adjusted) Cash and cash equivalents $ 75,821 $ — $ 75,821 Accounts receivable 178,922 — 178,922 Inventories 95,193 — 95,193 Prepaid expenses and other assets 10,652 666 11,318 Property, plant and equipment 115,529 (66) 115,463 Right of use lease assets 10,673 — 10,673 Investments in associated companies 66,447 — 66,447 Other non-current assets 4,710 1,553 6,263 Intangible assets 1,028,400 — 1,028,400 Goodwill 494,915 4,625 499,540 Total assets purchased 2,081,262 6,778 2,088,040 Short-term borrowings, not refinanced at closing 9,297 — 9,297 Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other accrued liabilities 150,078 1,127 151,205 Deferred tax liabilities 205,082 4,098 209,180 Long-term lease liabilities 6,607 — 6,607 Other non-current liabilities 47,733 1,553 49,286 Total liabilities assumed 418,797 6,778 425,575 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
Norman Hay [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Schedule of estimated fair values of net assets acquired [Table Text Block]	Measurement October 1, Period October 1, 2019 2019 (1) Adjustments (as adjusted) Cash and cash equivalents $ 18,981 $ — $ 18,981 Accounts receivable 15,471 — 15,471 Inventories 8,213 (49) 8,164 Prepaid expenses and other assets 4,203 138 4,341 Property, plant and equipment 14,981 — 14,981 Right of use lease assets 10,608 — 10,608 Intangible assets 51,088 — 51,088 Goodwill 29,384 (82) 29,302 Total assets purchased 152,929 7 152,936 Long-term debt included current portions 485 — 485 Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other accrued liabilities 13,488 (732) 12,756 Deferred tax liabilities 12,746 905 13,651 Long-term lease liabilities 8,594 — 8,594 Total liabilities assumed 35,313 173 35,486 Total consideration paid for Norman Hay 117,616 (166) 117,450 Less: estimated purchase price settlement (2) 3,287 (3,287) — Less: cash acquired 18,981 — 18,981 Net cash paid for Norman Hay $ 95,348 $ 3,121 $ 98,469
Coral Chemical Company [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Schedule of estimated fair values of net assets acquired [Table Text Block]	December 22, 2020 Cash and cash equivalents $ 958 Accounts receivable 8,473 Inventories 4,527 Prepaid expenses and other assets 181 Property, plant and equipment 10,467 Intangible assets 30,300 Goodwill 2,814 Total assets purchased 57,720 Long-term debt included current portions 183 Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other accrued liabilities 3,482 Total liabilities assumed 3,665 Total consideration paid for Coral 54,055 Less: cash acquired 958 Net cash paid for Coral $ 53,097