Summary Quarterly Financial Data (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended									12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015		Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Net sales	$ 192,760		$ 222,190	$ 224,900	$ 224,130	$ 223,430	$ 222,330	$ 224,710	$ 216,830	$ 863,980	$ 887,300	$ 799,700
Gross Profit	49,000		62,470	61,720	62,920	53,940	59,870	62,760	60,440	236,110	237,010	226,040
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(60,800)	[1]	11,710	8,490	11,940	7,670	11,090	14,440	13,690	(28,660)	46,890	59,240
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	0		0	(6,780)	2,040	(6,200)	11,140	11,760	5,690	(4,740)	22,390	20,830
Net income (loss)	$ (60,800)		$ 11,710	$ 1,710	$ 13,980	1,470	22,230	26,200	19,380	(33,400)	69,280	80,070
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest						0	0	0	810	0	810	4,520
Net income (loss) attributable to TriMas Corporation						$ 1,470	$ 22,230	$ 26,200	$ 18,570	$ (33,400)	$ 68,470	$ 75,550
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to TriMas Corporation:
Continuing operations	$ (1.35)		$ 0.26	$ 0.19	$ 0.26	$ 0.17	$ 0.24	$ 0.32	$ 0.29	$ (0.64)	$ 1.03	$ 1.34
Discontinued operations	0.00		0.00	(0.15)	0.05	(0.14)	0.25	0.26	0.12	(0.10)	0.50	0.51
Net income (loss) per share	$ (1.35)		$ 0.26	$ 0.04	$ 0.31	$ 0.03	$ 0.49	$ 0.58	$ 0.41	$ (0.74)	$ 1.53	$ 1.85
Weighted average shares—basic	45,188,303		45,157,412	45,150,827	44,997,961	44,938,675	44,919,340	44,901,090	44,768,594	45,123,626	44,881,925	40,926,257
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to TriMas Corporation:
Continuing operations	$ (1.35)		$ 0.26	$ 0.19	$ 0.26	$ 0.17	$ 0.24	$ 0.32	$ 0.29	$ (0.64)	$ 1.02	$ 1.32
Discontinued operations	0.00		0.00	(0.15)	0.05	(0.14)	0.25	0.26	0.12	(0.10)	0.49	0.51
Net income (loss) per share	$ (1.35)		$ 0.26	$ 0.04	$ 0.31	$ 0.03	$ 0.49	$ 0.58	$ 0.41	$ (0.74)	$ 1.51	$ 1.83
Weighted average shares—diluted	45,188,303		45,499,104	45,418,907	45,400,843	45,384,460	45,276,199	45,230,862	45,186,114	45,123,626	45,269,409	41,395,706
Goodwill and Intangible Asset Impairment	$ 75,700									$ 75,680	$ 0	$ 0

[1] Loss from continuing operations for the fourth quarter of 2015 includes pre-tax goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible asset impairment charges of $75.7 million. See Note 8, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets", for further details.