Document and Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Mar. 27, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Document And Entity Information
Entity Registrant Name	TOR MINERALS INTERNATIONAL INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000842295
Document Type	10-K
Trading Symbol	torm
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2017
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity a Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity a Voluntary Filer	No
Entity's Reporting Status Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Public Float			$ 11,331
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		3,541,703
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2017