Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Oct. 22, 2013
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2013
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2013
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Trading Symbol	SLI
Entity Registrant Name	SL INDUSTRIES INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000089270
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		4,122,000