Consolidated Statement of Income Statement - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 863,980	$ 887,300	$ 799,700
Cost of sales	(627,870)	(650,290)	(573,660)
Gross profit	236,110	237,010	226,040
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(162,350)	(146,590)	(138,540)
Net gain (loss) on dispositions of property and equipment	(2,330)	(3,770)	9,710
Impairment of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets	(75,680)	0	0
Operating profit (loss)	(4,250)	86,650	97,210
Other expense, net:
Interest expense	(14,060)	(9,590)	(15,270)
Debt financing and extinguishment costs	(1,970)	(3,360)	(2,460)
Other expense, net	(1,840)	(4,100)	(3,330)
Other expense, net	(17,870)	(17,050)	(21,060)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax expense	(22,120)	69,600	76,150
Income tax expense	(6,540)	(22,710)	(16,910)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(28,660)	46,890	59,240
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	(4,740)	22,390	20,830
Net income (loss)	(33,400)	69,280	80,070
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	810	4,520
Net income (loss) attributable to TriMas Corporation	$ (33,400)	$ 68,470	$ 75,550
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to TriMas Corporation:
Continuing operations	$ (0.64)	$ 1.03	$ 1.34
Discontinued operations	(0.10)	0.50	0.51
Net income (loss) per share	$ (0.74)	$ 1.53	$ 1.85
Weighted average common shares—basic	45,123,626	44,881,925	40,926,257
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to TriMas Corporation:
Continuing operations	$ (0.64)	$ 1.02	$ 1.32
Discontinued operations	(0.10)	0.49	0.51
Net income (loss) per share	$ (0.74)	$ 1.51	$ 1.83
Weighted average common shares—diluted	45,123,626	45,269,409	41,395,706