Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Basis of Consolidation	Basis of Consolidation. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Universal Stainless & Alloy Products, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”). All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The Company has no interests in any unconsolidated entity.
Use of Estimates	Use of Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements. The estimates and assumptions used in these consolidated financial statements are based on known information available as of the balance sheet date. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Concentration of Credit Risk	Concentration of Credit Risk. The Company limits its credit risk on accounts receivable by performing ongoing credit evaluations and, when deemed necessary, requiring letters of credit, guarantees or cash collateral. The Company’s largest customers were Fry Steel Company, which accounted for approximately 11%, 11% and 8% of its net sales for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and approximately 6% and 9% of its accounts receivable balance at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and Carpenter Technology Corporation , which accounted for approximately 10%, 12% and 14% of its net sales for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and approximately 6% and 13% of its accounts receivable balance at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts	Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts. Accounts receivable are presented net of the allowance for doubtful accounts on the consolidated balance sheets. The Company markets its products to a diverse customer base, primarily throughout the United States. The allowance for doubtful accounts includes specific reserves for the value of outstanding invoices issued to customers currently operating under the protection of the federal bankruptcy law and other amounts that are deemed potentially not collectible. The Company reviews historical trends for collectability in determining an estimate for its allowance for doubtful accounts. If economic circumstances change substantially, estimates of the recoverability of amounts due to the Company could be reduced. Receivables are charged-off to the allowance when they are deemed to be uncollectible. Bad debt expense, net of recoveries for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 was $4,000, ($99,000) and $4,000, respectively.
Inventories	Inventories. Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market with cost principally determined by the weighted average cost method. Such costs include the acquisition cost for raw materials and supplies, direct labor and applied manufacturing overhead within the guidelines of normal plant capacity. Provisions are made for slow-moving inventory based upon management’s expected method of disposition. The net change in inventory reserves for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 was a $300,000 increase, $148,000 increase and a $166,000 decrease, respectively. Included in inventory are operating materials consisting of forge dies and production molds and rolls, that are consumed over their useful lives.
Property, Plant and Equipment	Property, Plant and Equipment. Property, plant and equipment is recorded at cost or its fair value at acquisition date. Costs incurred in connection with the construction or major rebuild of facilities, including interest directly related to the project, are capitalized as construction in progress. During the years ended December 31, 2012, and 2011, the Company capitalized $476,000 and $394,000, respectively, of interest expense related to construction projects in progress. No depreciation is recognized on assets until they are placed in service. Assets which have been retired or disposed of are removed from cost and accumulated depreciation accounts, with the gain or loss reflected in operating income. Material major equipment maintenance costs are capitalized as incurred and amortized to expense over the subsequent six or twelve-month period, depending on the expected benefit the Company believes it will receive from the major maintenance. Other maintenance costs are expensed as incurred. Costs of improvements and renewals are capitalized. Maintenance expense for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 was $17.7 million, $15.9 million and $11.9 million, respectively. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method based on the estimated useful lives of the related assets. The estimated useful lives of buildings and land improvements are between 10 and 39 years, and the estimated useful lives of machinery and equipment are between 5 and 20 years. Depreciation expense for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 was $12.1 million, $7.0 million and $5.5 million, respectively.
Intangible Assets	Intangible Assets. Identifiable intangible assets are recorded at fair value, upon acquisition and are amortized over their useful lives using the straight-line method. The Company allocated $1.3 million of the North Jackson facility purchase price to an intangible asset related to the non-compete agreement entered into during 2011 with the seller of the North Jackson facility. The intangible asset is included on the consolidated balance sheet as a component of other long-term assets and is being be amortized over the five-year life of the agreement. The Company recognized $266,000 and $100,000 of amortization expense in 2012 and 2011, respectively, from this intangible asset, which is included as a component of selling and administrative expenses on the consolidated statement of operations. Amortization expense for this intangible asset is estimated to be $266,000 for 2013, 2014 and 2015 and $166,000 for 2016.
Long-Lived Asset Impairment	Long-Lived Asset Impairment. Long-lived assets, including property, plant and equipment and intangible assets are evaluated for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable in relation to the operating performance and future undiscounted cash flows of the underlying assets. Adjustments are made if the sum of expected future cash flows is less than the book value. Based on management’s assessment of the carrying values of long-lived assets, no impairment reserve was deemed necessary as of December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010.
Deferred Finance Costs	Deferred Financing Costs. Deferred financing costs are amortized over the life of the related financial instrument using the straight-line method, which approximates the effective interest method. Deferred financing cost amortization for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 was $308,000, $153,000 and $17,000, respectively, and is included as a component of interest expense and other financing costs on the consolidated statements of operations.
Goodwill	Goodwill. Goodwill, which represents the excess of cost over net tangible and identifiable intangible assets of acquired businesses, is stated at fair value. Goodwill is not amortized by the Company, but will be evaluated or tested annually for impairment or more frequently if any event indicates that the carrying amount of goodwill may be impaired. The Company performs its annual evaluation or test of goodwill as of the beginning of the fourth quarter. The Company evaluates or tests goodwill for impairment by either performing a qualitative evaluation or a two-step quantitative test, which involves comparing the estimated fair value of the associated reporting unit to its carrying value. The qualitative evaluation is an assessment of factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. Factors considered as part of the qualitative assessment include entity-specific, industry, market and general economic conditions. The Company may elect to bypass this qualitative assessment and perform a two-step quantitative test. The Company tests for goodwill impairment using a combination of valuation techniques, which include consideration of a market-based approach (guideline company method) and an income approach (discounted cash flow method), in determining the fair value of its applicable reporting units in the annual impairment test of goodwill. The Company believes that the combination of the valuation models provides a more appropriate valuation of its reporting units by taking into account different marketplace participant assumptions. Both methods utilize market data in the derivation of a value estimate and are forward-looking in nature. The guideline assessment of future performance and the discounted cash flow method utilize a market-derived rate of return to discount anticipated performance.
Revenue Recognition	Revenue Recognition. Revenue from the sale of products is recognized when both risk of loss and title have transferred to the customer, which in most cases coincides with shipment of the related products, and collection is reasonably assured. Revenue from conversion services is recognized when the performance of the service is complete. Invoiced shipping and handling costs are also accounted for as revenue. Customer claims, which are not material, are accounted for primarily as a reduction to gross sales after the matter has been researched and an acceptable resolution has been reached.
Income Taxes	Income Taxes. Deferred income taxes are provided for unused tax credits earned and the tax effect of temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in the financial statements. The Company uses the liability method to account for income taxes, which requires deferred taxes to be recorded at the statutory rate expected to be in effect when the taxes are paid. Valuation allowances are provided for a deferred tax asset when it is more likely than not that such asset will not be realized. Income tax penalties and interest are included in the provision for income tax expense. The Company evaluates the tax positions taken or expected to be taken in its tax returns. A tax position should only be recognized in the financial statements if the Company determines that it is more-likely-than-not that the tax position will be sustained upon examination by the tax authorities, based upon the technical merits of the position. For those tax positions that should be recognized, the measurement of a tax position is determined as being the largest amount of benefit that is greater than fifty percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The Company believes there are no known uncertain tax positions at December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010.
Share-based Compensation Plans	Share-based Compensation Plans. The Company recognizes compensation expense based on the grant-date fair value of the awards. The fair value of the stock option grants is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, and is recognized ratably over the service/vesting period of the award. The fair value of time-based restricted stock grants is calculated using the market value of the stock on the date of issuance, and is recognized ratably over the service/vesting period of the award.
Net Income per Common Share	Net Income per Common Share. Net income per common share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per common share is computed by dividing net income, adjusted to include interest expense (tax effected) for the convertible notes by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding plus all dilutive potential common shares outstanding during the period. All shares that were issuable under the Company’s outstanding convertible notes were considered outstanding for the Company’s net income per common share computation, using the “if converted” method of accounting from the date of issuance.
Treasury Stock	Treasury Stock. The Company accounts for Treasury Stock under the cost method and includes such shares as a reduction of total stockholders’ equity.
Financial Instruments	Financial Instruments. Financial instruments held by the Company include cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable and long-term debt. The carrying value of cash, accounts receivable and accounts payable is considered to be representative of fair value because of the short maturity of these instruments. Refer to Note 7 of the Company’s consolidated financial statements for fair value disclosures of the Company’s financial instruments.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	Recent Accounting Pronouncements. In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2011-04, “Fair Value Measurements (Topic 820): Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) and International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”). This amendment provides a consistent definition of fair value and ensures that the fair value measurement and disclosure requirements are similar between GAAP and IFRS. The amendment clarifies the application of existing fair value measurements and disclosures, and changes certain principles or requirements for fair value measurements and disclosures. These provisions were effective for reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2011. The adoption of this guidance had no material impact on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets, results of operations or cash flows.

Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Basis of Consolidation. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Universal Stainless & Alloy Products, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”). All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The Company has no interests in any unconsolidated entity.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements. The estimates and assumptions used in these consolidated financial statements are based on known information available as of the balance sheet date. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Concentration of Credit Risk. The Company limits its credit risk on accounts receivable by performing ongoing credit evaluations and, when deemed necessary, requiring letters of credit, guarantees or cash collateral. The Company’s largest customers were Fry Steel Company, which accounted for approximately 11%, 11% and 8% of its net sales for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and approximately 6% and 9% of its accounts receivable balance at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, and Carpenter Technology Corporation , which accounted for approximately 10%, 12% and 14% of its net sales for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and approximately 6% and 13% of its accounts receivable balance at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts. Accounts receivable are presented net of the allowance for doubtful accounts on the consolidated balance sheets. The Company markets its products to a diverse customer base, primarily throughout the United States. The allowance for doubtful accounts includes specific reserves for the value of outstanding invoices issued to customers currently operating under the protection of the federal bankruptcy law and other amounts that are deemed potentially not collectible. The Company reviews historical trends for collectability in determining an estimate for its allowance for doubtful accounts. If economic circumstances change substantially, estimates of the recoverability of amounts due to the Company could be reduced. Receivables are charged-off to the allowance when they are deemed to be uncollectible. Bad debt expense, net of recoveries for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 was $4,000, ($99,000) and $4,000, respectively.

Inventories

Inventories. Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market with cost principally determined by the weighted average cost method. Such costs include the acquisition cost for raw materials and supplies, direct labor and applied manufacturing overhead within the guidelines of normal plant capacity. Provisions are made for slow-moving inventory based upon management’s expected method of disposition. The net change in inventory reserves for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 was a $300,000 increase, $148,000 increase and a $166,000 decrease, respectively.

Included in inventory are operating materials consisting of forge dies and production molds and rolls, that are consumed over their useful lives.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, Plant and Equipment. Property, plant and equipment is recorded at cost or its fair value at acquisition date. Costs incurred in connection with the construction or major rebuild of facilities, including interest directly related to the project, are capitalized as construction in progress. During the years ended December 31, 2012, and 2011, the Company capitalized $476,000 and $394,000, respectively, of interest expense related to construction projects in progress. No depreciation is recognized on assets until they are placed in service. Assets which have

been retired or disposed of are removed from cost and accumulated depreciation accounts, with the gain or loss reflected in operating income. Material major equipment maintenance costs are capitalized as incurred and amortized to expense over the subsequent six or twelve-month period, depending on the expected benefit the Company believes it will receive from the major maintenance. Other maintenance costs are expensed as incurred. Costs of improvements and renewals are capitalized. Maintenance expense for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 was $17.7 million, $15.9 million and $11.9 million, respectively.

Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method based on the estimated useful lives of the related assets. The estimated useful lives of buildings and land improvements are between 10 and 39 years, and the estimated useful lives of machinery and equipment are between 5 and 20 years. Depreciation expense for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 was $12.1 million, $7.0 million and $5.5 million, respectively.

Intangible Assets

Intangible Assets. Identifiable intangible assets are recorded at fair value, upon acquisition and are amortized over their useful lives using the straight-line method. The Company allocated $1.3 million of the North Jackson facility purchase price to an intangible asset related to the non-compete agreement entered into during 2011 with the seller of the North Jackson facility. The intangible asset is included on the consolidated balance sheet as a component of other long-term assets and is being be amortized over the five-year life of the agreement. The Company recognized $266,000 and $100,000 of amortization expense in 2012 and 2011, respectively, from this intangible asset, which is included as a component of selling and administrative expenses on the consolidated statement of operations. Amortization expense for this intangible asset is estimated to be $266,000 for 2013, 2014 and 2015 and $166,000 for 2016.

Long-Lived Asset Impairment

Long-Lived Asset Impairment. Long-lived assets, including property, plant and equipment and intangible assets are evaluated for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable in relation to the operating performance and future undiscounted cash flows of the underlying assets. Adjustments are made if the sum of expected future cash flows is less than the book value. Based on management’s assessment of the carrying values of long-lived assets, no impairment reserve was deemed necessary as of December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010.

Deferred Finance Costs

Deferred Financing Costs. Deferred financing costs are amortized over the life of the related financial instrument using the straight-line method, which approximates the effective interest method. Deferred financing cost amortization for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 was $308,000, $153,000 and $17,000, respectively, and is included as a component of interest expense and other financing costs on the consolidated statements of operations.

Goodwill

Goodwill. Goodwill, which represents the excess of cost over net tangible and identifiable intangible assets of acquired businesses, is stated at fair value. Goodwill is not amortized by the Company, but will be evaluated or tested annually for impairment or more frequently if any event indicates that the carrying amount of goodwill may be impaired.

The Company performs its annual evaluation or test of goodwill as of the beginning of the fourth quarter. The Company evaluates or tests goodwill for impairment by either performing a qualitative evaluation or a two-step quantitative test, which involves comparing the estimated fair value of the associated reporting unit to its carrying value. The qualitative evaluation is an assessment of factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. Factors considered as part of the qualitative assessment include entity-specific, industry, market and general economic conditions. The Company may elect to bypass this qualitative assessment and perform a two-step quantitative test. The Company tests for goodwill impairment using a combination of valuation techniques, which include consideration of a market-based approach (guideline company method) and an income approach (discounted cash flow method), in determining the fair value of its applicable reporting units in the annual impairment test of goodwill. The Company believes that the combination of the valuation models provides a more appropriate valuation of its reporting units by taking into account different marketplace participant assumptions. Both methods utilize market data in the derivation of a value estimate and are forward-looking in nature. The guideline assessment of future performance and the discounted cash flow method utilize a market-derived rate of return to discount anticipated performance.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition. Revenue from the sale of products is recognized when both risk of loss and title have transferred to the customer, which in most cases coincides with shipment of the related products, and collection is reasonably assured. Revenue from conversion services is recognized when the performance of the service is complete. Invoiced shipping and handling costs are also accounted for as revenue. Customer claims, which are not material, are accounted for primarily as a reduction to gross sales after the matter has been researched and an acceptable resolution has been reached.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes. Deferred income taxes are provided for unused tax credits earned and the tax effect of temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in the financial statements. The Company uses the liability method to account for income taxes, which requires deferred taxes to be recorded at the statutory rate expected to be in effect when the taxes are paid. Valuation allowances are provided for a deferred tax asset when it is more likely than not that such asset will not be realized. Income tax penalties and interest are included in the provision for income tax expense.

The Company evaluates the tax positions taken or expected to be taken in its tax returns. A tax position should only be recognized in the financial statements if the Company determines that it is more-likely-than-not that the tax position will be sustained upon examination by the tax authorities, based upon the technical merits of the position. For those tax positions that should be recognized, the measurement of a tax position is determined as being the largest amount of benefit that is greater than fifty percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The Company believes there are no known uncertain tax positions at December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010.

Share-based Compensation Plans

Share-based Compensation Plans. The Company recognizes compensation expense based on the grant-date fair value of the awards. The fair value of the stock option grants is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, and is recognized ratably over the service/vesting period of the award. The fair value of time-based restricted stock grants is calculated using the market value of the stock on the date of issuance, and is recognized ratably over the service/vesting period of the award.

Net Income per Common Share

Net Income per Common Share. Net income per common share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per common share is computed by dividing net income, adjusted to include interest expense (tax effected) for the convertible notes by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding plus all dilutive potential common shares outstanding during the period. All shares that were issuable under the Company’s outstanding convertible notes were considered outstanding for the Company’s net income per common share computation, using the “if converted” method of accounting from the date of issuance.

Treasury Stock

Treasury Stock. The Company accounts for Treasury Stock under the cost method and includes such shares as a reduction of total stockholders’ equity.

Financial Instruments

Financial Instruments. Financial instruments held by the Company include cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable and long-term debt. The carrying value of cash, accounts receivable and accounts payable is considered to be representative of fair value because of the short maturity of these instruments. Refer to Note 7 of the Company’s consolidated financial statements for fair value disclosures of the Company’s financial instruments.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recent Accounting Pronouncements.

In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2011-04, “Fair Value Measurements (Topic 820): Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) and International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”). This amendment provides a consistent definition of fair value and ensures that the fair value measurement and disclosure requirements are similar between GAAP and IFRS. The amendment clarifies the application of existing fair value measurements and disclosures, and changes certain principles or requirements for fair value measurements and disclosures. These provisions were effective for reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2011. The adoption of this guidance had no material impact on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets, results of operations or cash flows.