Long-Term Debt And Liquidity (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	9 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Oct. 07, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Nov. 30, 2010 Senior Subordinated Notes [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Senior Subordinated Notes [Member]	Sep. 30, 2009 Other Debt [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Other Debt [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Revolving facility, description	On October 7, 2011, GrafTech and certain of its subsidiaries, entered into an Amended and Restated Credit Agreement that provides for, among other things, an increase in the line of credit, an extension of the maturity date, a decrease in the cost of borrowings, and changes in financial covenants under our principal revolving credit facility ("Revolving Facility").
Aggregate amount for payment of dividends and repurchase of common stock								$ 75,000,000
Aggregate amount for payment of dividends and repurchase of common stock after satisfying certain leverage ratio								500,000,000
Percentage of consolidated net income in prior year		50.00%
Revolving Facility for an amount not to exceed		50,000,000
Aggregate amount of revolving credit facility, max		50,000,000
Face amount of debt issued in connection with acquisition			200,000,000
Loan balance, net of unamortized discount				150,900,000		1,200,000	900,000
Interest rate used in determination of present value			7.00%		4.33%
Received economic stimulus loan					1,800,000
Debt instruments maturity date				2015	October 2024		2018
Repayment of loan, number of annual installments					10
Repayment of loan, commencement date					October 2015
Monthly payment for mortgage loan							$ 12,000
Mortgage loan interest rate							3.00%