Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Net Earnings Attributable to SMP - [Abstract]
Earnings from continuing operations		$ 99,353	$ 80,417	$ 69,051
Loss from discontinued operations		(8,467)	(23,024)	(11,134)
Net earnings attributable to SMP	[1]	$ 90,886	$ 57,393	$ 57,917
Basic Net Earnings Per Common Share Attributable to SMP - [Abstract]
Earnings from continuing operations per common share (in dollars per share)		$ 4.49	$ 3.59	$ 3.09
Loss from discontinued operations per common share (in dollars per share)		(0.39)	(1.02)	(0.50)
Net earnings per common share - Basic (in dollars per share)		$ 4.10	$ 2.57	$ 2.59
Weighted average common shares outstanding (in shares)		22,147,479	22,374,123	22,378,414
Diluted Net Earnings Per Common Share Attributable to SMP -
Earnings from continuing operations per common share (in dollars per share)		$ 4.39	$ 3.52	$ 3.03
Loss from discontinued operations per common share (in dollars per share)		(0.37)	(1.01)	(0.49)
Net earnings per common share - Diluted (in dollars per share)		$ 4.02	$ 2.51	$ 2.54
Weighted average common shares outstanding (in shares)		22,147,479	22,374,123	22,378,414
Plus incremental shares from assumed conversions [Abstract]
Dilutive effect of restricted stock and performance-based stock (in shares)		469,000	452,000	440,000
Weighted average common shares outstanding - Diluted (in shares)		22,616,456	22,825,885	22,818,451
Restricted and Performance-Based Shares [Member]
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share (in shares)		269,000	268,000	255,000

[1] Throughout this Form 10-K, “SMP” refers to Standard Motor Products, Inc. and subsidiaries.