Quarterly Financial Information (unaudited) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Quarterly Financial Information (unaudited)
Net sales	$ 33,370,150	$ 31,966,826	$ 33,672,605	$ 31,952,223	$ 31,477,305	$ 30,761,959	$ 33,500,994	$ 31,503,588	$ 130,961,804	$ 127,243,846	$ 120,766,450
Gross profit	10,067,382	9,225,882	9,690,555	9,201,362	8,955,189	8,484,298	10,003,484	8,801,548	38,185,181	36,244,519	34,615,730
Net income attributable to UFP Technologies, Inc.	$ 3,203,224	$ 2,596,273	$ 2,747,066	$ 2,348,734	$ 3,004,307	$ 2,435,188	$ 2,701,792	$ 2,204,883	$ 10,895,297	$ 10,346,170	$ 9,247,092
Basic net income per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.48	$ 0.39	$ 0.41	$ 0.36	$ 0.46	$ 0.37	$ 0.42	$ 0.34	$ 1.63	$ 1.60	$ 1.50
Diluted net income per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.45	$ 0.37	$ 0.39	$ 0.33	$ 0.43	$ 0.35	$ 0.39	$ 0.32	$ 1.55	$ 1.48	$ 1.37