Supplemental Guarantor Condensed Consolidating Financial Information - Condensed Statement of Operations (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 335,870	$ 277,660	$ 971,870	$ 824,310
Cost of sales	(245,730)	(195,720)	(706,930)	(582,260)
Gross profit	90,140	81,940	264,940	242,050
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(53,550)	(46,170)	(156,730)	(137,180)
Gain (Loss) on dispositions of property and equipment	10	20	330	50
Operating profit	36,600	35,790	108,540	104,920
Other income (expense), net:
Interest expense	(9,450)	(10,730)	(30,420)	(34,370)
Debt extinguishment costs	0	0	(6,560)	(3,970)
Other, net	140	540	(2,410)	(1,170)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax (expense) benefit and equity in net income of subsidiaries	27,290	25,600	69,150	65,410
Income tax (expense) benefit	(7,330)	(8,620)	(19,770)	(21,730)
Equity in net income of subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Income (loss) from continuing operations		16,980		43,680
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes		1,290		3,430
Net income	19,960	18,270	49,380	47,110
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	1,290		1,560
Net income (loss) attributable to TriMas Corporation	18,670	18,270	47,820	47,110
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	(5,140)	(6,420)	(17,750)	(19,250)
Debt extinguishment costs			(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	(5,140)	(6,420)	(24,310)	(19,250)
Income tax (expense) benefit	1,800	3,330	8,510	7,820
Equity in net income of subsidiaries	23,300	21,360	65,180	58,540
Income (loss) from continuing operations		18,270		47,110
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes		0		0
Net income	19,960		49,380
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0		0
Net income (loss) attributable to TriMas Corporation	19,960	18,270	49,380	47,110
Guarantor [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	275,570	230,030	813,000	687,770
Cost of sales	(201,870)	(164,480)	(593,450)	(490,760)
Gross profit	73,700	65,550	219,550	197,010
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(44,240)	(39,080)	(131,370)	(114,890)
Gain (Loss) on dispositions of property and equipment	(20)	70	300	80
Operating profit	29,440	26,540	88,480	82,200
Other income (expense), net:
Interest expense	(3,620)	(3,660)	(11,130)	(13,320)
Debt extinguishment costs			0	(3,970)
Other, net	300	(770)	(3,330)	(5,180)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax (expense) benefit and equity in net income of subsidiaries	26,120	22,110	74,020	59,730
Income tax (expense) benefit	(8,160)	(9,030)	(24,260)	(21,510)
Equity in net income of subsidiaries	5,340	6,990	15,420	16,890
Income (loss) from continuing operations		20,070		55,110
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes		1,290		3,430
Net income	23,300		65,180
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	1,290		1,560
Net income (loss) attributable to TriMas Corporation	22,010	21,360	63,620	58,540
Non-Guarantor [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	88,220	59,910	215,870	171,000
Cost of sales	(71,780)	(43,520)	(170,480)	(125,960)
Gross profit	16,440	16,390	45,390	45,040
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(9,310)	(7,090)	(25,360)	(22,290)
Gain (Loss) on dispositions of property and equipment	30	(50)	30	(30)
Operating profit	7,160	9,250	20,060	22,720
Other income (expense), net:
Interest expense	(690)	(650)	(1,540)	(1,800)
Debt extinguishment costs			0	0
Other, net	(160)	1,310	920	4,010
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax (expense) benefit and equity in net income of subsidiaries	6,310	9,910	19,440	24,930
Income tax (expense) benefit	(970)	(2,920)	(4,020)	(8,040)
Equity in net income of subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Income (loss) from continuing operations		6,990		16,890
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes		0		0
Net income	5,340		15,420
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0		0
Net income (loss) attributable to TriMas Corporation	5,340	6,990	15,420	16,890
Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net sales	(27,920)	(12,280)	(57,000)	(34,460)
Cost of sales	27,920	12,280	57,000	34,460
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
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	(28,640)	(28,350)	(80,600)	(75,430)
Income (loss) from continuing operations		(28,350)		(75,430)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes		0		0
Net income	(28,640)		(80,600)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0		0
Net income (loss) attributable to TriMas Corporation	$ (28,640)	$ (28,350)	$ (80,600)	$ (75,430)