Supplemental Guarantor Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Condensed Statement of Operations (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 338,430	$ 288,090	$ 636,000	$ 546,650
Cost of sales	(242,540)	(199,800)	(461,200)	(386,540)
Gross profit	95,890	88,290	174,800	160,110
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(52,710)	(47,470)	(103,180)	(91,010)
Gain (Loss) on dispositions of property and equipment	20	(40)	320	30
Operating profit	43,200	40,780	71,940	69,130
Other income (expense), net:
Interest expense	(10,300)	(11,620)	(20,970)	(23,640)
Debt extinguishment costs	(6,560)	(3,970)	(6,560)	(3,970)
Other, net	(910)	(550)	(2,550)	(1,710)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax (expense) benefit and equity in net income of subsidiaries	25,430	24,640	41,860	39,810
Income tax (expense) benefit	(8,260)	(8,630)	(12,440)	(13,110)
Equity in net income of subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Income (loss) from continuing operations		16,010		26,700
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes		1,080		2,140
Net income	17,170	17,090	29,420	28,840
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	510		270
Net income (loss) attributable to TriMas Corporation	16,660	17,090	29,150	28,840
Parent [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	0	0	0	0
Cost of sales	0	0	0	0
Gross profit	0	0	0	0
Selling, general and administrative expenses	0	0	0	0
Gain (Loss) on dispositions of property and equipment	0	0	0	0
Operating profit	0	0	0	0
Other income (expense), net:
Interest expense	(6,200)	(6,410)	(12,610)	(12,830)
Debt extinguishment costs	(6,560)		(6,560)	0
Other, net	0	0	0	0
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax (expense) benefit and equity in net income of subsidiaries	(12,760)	(6,410)	(19,170)	(12,830)
Income tax (expense) benefit	4,480	2,240	6,710	4,490
Equity in net income of subsidiaries	25,450	21,260	41,880	37,180
Income (loss) from continuing operations		17,090		28,840
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes		0		0
Net income	17,170		29,420
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0		0
Net income (loss) attributable to TriMas Corporation	17,170	17,090	29,420	28,840
Guarantor [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	288,070	240,790	537,430	457,740
Cost of sales	(207,690)	(168,380)	(391,580)	(326,280)
Gross profit	80,380	72,410	145,850	131,460
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(44,910)	(39,790)	(87,130)	(75,810)
Gain (Loss) on dispositions of property and equipment	10	(60)	320	10
Operating profit	35,480	32,560	59,040	55,660
Other income (expense), net:
Interest expense	(3,660)	(4,600)	(7,510)	(9,660)
Debt extinguishment costs	0		0	(3,970)
Other, net	(590)	(1,840)	(3,630)	(4,410)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax (expense) benefit and equity in net income of subsidiaries	31,230	22,150	47,900	37,620
Income tax (expense) benefit	(11,150)	(8,840)	(16,100)	(12,480)
Equity in net income of subsidiaries	5,370	6,870	10,080	9,900
Income (loss) from continuing operations		20,180		35,040
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes		1,080		2,140
Net income	25,450		41,880
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	510		270
Net income (loss) attributable to TriMas Corporation	24,940	21,260	41,610	37,180
Non-Guarantor [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	66,450	59,410	127,650	111,090
Cost of sales	(50,940)	(43,530)	(98,700)	(82,440)
Gross profit	15,510	15,880	28,950	28,650
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(7,800)	(7,680)	(16,050)	(15,200)
Gain (Loss) on dispositions of property and equipment	10	20	0	20
Operating profit	7,720	8,220	12,900	13,470
Other income (expense), net:
Interest expense	(440)	(610)	(850)	(1,150)
Debt extinguishment costs	0		0	0
Other, net	(320)	1,290	1,080	2,700
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax (expense) benefit and equity in net income of subsidiaries	6,960	8,900	13,130	15,020
Income tax (expense) benefit	(1,590)	(2,030)	(3,050)	(5,120)
Equity in net income of subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Income (loss) from continuing operations		6,870		9,900
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes		0		0
Net income	5,370		10,080
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0		0
Net income (loss) attributable to TriMas Corporation	5,370	6,870	10,080	9,900
Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	(16,090)	(12,110)	(29,080)	(22,180)
Cost of sales	16,090	12,110	29,080	22,180
Gross profit	0	0	0	0
Selling, general and administrative expenses	0	0	0	0
Gain (Loss) on dispositions of property and equipment	0	0	0	0
Operating profit	0	0	0	0
Other income (expense), net:
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Debt extinguishment costs	0		0	0
Other, net	0	0	0	0
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax (expense) benefit and equity in net income of subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Income tax (expense) benefit	0	0	0	0
Equity in net income of subsidiaries	(30,820)	(28,130)	(51,960)	(47,080)
Income (loss) from continuing operations		(28,130)		(47,080)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes		0		0
Net income	(30,820)		(51,960)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0		0
Net income (loss) attributable to TriMas Corporation	$ (30,820)	$ (28,130)	$ (51,960)	$ (47,080)