Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2022	Mar. 31, 2021
Net Earnings Attributable to SMP [Abstract]
Earnings from continuing operations		$ 20,562	$ 22,164
Loss from discontinued operations		(1,116)	(1,164)
Net earnings attributable to SMP	[1]	$ 19,446	$ 21,000
Basic Net Earnings Per Common Share Attributable to SMP [Abstract]
Earnings from continuing operations per common share (in dollars per share)		$ 0.94	$ 0.99
Loss from discontinued operations per common share (in dollars per share)		(0.06)	(0.05)
Net earnings per common share - Basic (in dollars per share)		$ 0.88	$ 0.94
Weighted average common shares outstanding (in shares)		21,978,507	22,317,959
Diluted Net Earnings Per Common Share Attributable to SMP [Abstract]
Earnings from continuing operations per common share (in dollars per share)		$ 0.91	$ 0.97
Loss from discontinued operations per common share (in dollars per share)		(0.04)	(0.05)
Net earnings per common share - Diluted (in dollars per share)		$ 0.87	$ 0.92
Weighted average common shares outstanding (in shares)		21,978,507	22,317,959
Plus incremental shares from assumed conversions [Abstract]
Dilutive effect of restricted stock and performance-based stock (in shares)		499,000	448,000
Weighted average common shares outstanding - Diluted (in shares)		22,477,819	22,765,508
Restricted and Performance-Based Shares [Member]
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share (in shares)		259,000	272,000

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