Accounting Policies, by Policy (Policies)	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012
Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Principles of consolidation : The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of The L. S. Starrett Company and its subsidiaries, all of which are wholly-owned. All significant intercompany items have been eliminated in consolidation. The Company's fiscal year ends on June 30 effective for fiscal year 2011. Previously the fiscal year ended on the last Saturday in June.Fiscal year 2010 represents a 52 week year.This change in reporting period was not considered material to the Company's results of operations, therefore the results of operations for fiscal 2010 have not been restated.
Financial Instruments and Derivatives [Policy Text Block]	Financial instruments and derivatives : The Company's financial instruments include cash, investments and long term debt. Investments are stated at cost which approximates fair market value. The carrying value of long-term debt, which is at current market interest rates, also approximates its fair value.The Company's U.K. subsidiary entered into various forward exchange contracts. The amount of contracts outstanding as of June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2011 amounted to $2.0 million and $10.7 million, respectively.
Receivables, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Accounts receivable : Accounts receivable consist of trade receivables from customers. The expense for bad debts amounted to $0.8, $0.3, and $0.1 million in fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively. In establishing the allowance for doubtful accounts, management considers historical losses, the aging of receivables and existing economic conditions.
Inventory, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Inventories : Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Substantially all United States inventories are valued using the last-in-first-out ("LIFO") method of accounting.All non-U.S. subsidiaries use the first-in-first-out ("FIFO") method or the average cost method, as LIFO is not an accepted method of inventory valuation outside the U.S.
Property, Plant and Equipment, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Long-lived assets : The cost of buildings and equipment is depreciated using straight-line and accelerated methods over their estimated useful lives as follows: buildings and building improvements 10 to 50 years, machinery and equipment 3 to 12 years. Leases are capitalized under the criteria set forth in Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 840, "Leases" which establishes the four criteria of a capital lease.At least one of the four following criteria must be met for a lease to be considered a capital lease:a transfer of ownership of the property to the lessee by the end of the lease term; a bargain purchase option; a lease term that is greater than or equal to 75 percent of the economic life of the leased property; present value of the future minimum lease payments equals or exceeds 90 percent of the fair market value of the leased property.If none of the aforementioned criteria are met, the lease will be an operating lease. Long-lived assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell. A gain or loss is recorded on individual fixed assets when retired or disposed of. Included in buildings and building improvements and machinery and equipment at June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2011 were $3.3 million and $5.0 million, respectively, of construction in progress.Also included in machinery and equipment at June 30, 2012 and June 30, 2011 were $0.5 million and $0.5 million net of depreciation, respectively, of capitalized interest cost. Repairs and maintenance of equipment are expensed as incurred.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Intangible assets and goodwil l: Intangibles are recorded at cost and are amortized on a straight-line basis over a 5-14 year period. Patents are amortized over 15 years. Goodwill represents costs in excess of fair values assigned to the underlying net assets of acquired businesses. Goodwill is not subject to amortization but is tested for impairment annually and at any time when events suggest impairment may have occurred. The Company will annually test the goodwill associated with the November 2011 acquisition of Bytewise as of October 1.. The Company assesses the fair value of its goodwill using impairment tests, generally based upon a discounted cash flow methodology. The discounted cash flows are estimated utilizing various assumptions regarding future revenue and expenses, working capital, terminal value and market discount rates. In the event that the carrying value of goodwill exceeds the fair value of the goodwill, an impairment loss would be recorded for the amount of that excess.
Revenue Recognition, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Revenue recognition : Sales of merchandise and freight billed to customers are recognized when title and risk of loss has passed to the customer, no significant post delivery obligations remain and collection of the resulting receivable is reasonably assured. Sales are presented net of provisions for cash discounts, returns, customer discounts (such as volume or trade discounts), cooperative advertising and other sales related discounts.Cooperative advertising payments made to customers are included as advertising expense in selling, general and administrative in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.While the Company does allow its customers the right to return in certain circumstances, revenue is not deferred, but rather a reserve for sales returns is provided based on experience, which historically has not been significant.
Advertising Costs, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Advertising costs : The Company's policy is to generally expense advertising costs as incurred, except catalogs costs, which are deferred until mailed.Advertising costs were expensed as follows: $5.6 million in fiscal 2012, $5.1 million in fiscal 2011 and $5.0 million in fiscal 2010 and are included in selling, general and administrative expenses.
Shipping and Handling Cost, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Freight costs : The cost of outbound freight and the cost for inbound freight included in material purchase costs are both included in cost of sales.
Standard Product Warranty, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Warranty expense : The Company's warranty obligation is generally one year from shipment to the end user and is affected by product failure rates, material usage, and service delivery costs incurred in correcting a product failure. Historically, the Company has not incurred significant warranty expense and consequently its warranty reserves are not material.
Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits: The Company has two defined benefit pension plans, one for U.S. employees and another for U.K. employees.The Company also has defined contribution plans.In addition, certain U.S. employees participate in an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The Company sponsors both funded and unfunded U.S. and non-U.S. defined benefit pension plans covering the majority of our U.S. and U.K. employees. The Company also sponsors postretirement benefit plans that provide health care benefits and life insurance coverage to eligible U.S. retirees. In 2011, the Company elected to retrospectively change its method of recognizing certain actuarial gains and losses. Previously, the market related value of plan assets for the U.S. plan was equal to fair value, and the market-related value of plan assets for the U.K. plan was based on a calculated five-year moving average of market value. Actuarial gains and losses were recognized in other comprehensive income as of the measurement date.Net actuarial gains or losses in excess of ten percent (10%) of the greater of the market-related value of plan assets or of the plans' projected benefit obligation ( the corridor ) were amortized in net periodic benefit cost over the average remaining service period (currently fourteen-years). The primary factors contributing to actuarial gains and losses were changes in the discount rate used to value pension obligations as of the measurement date each year and the differences between expected and actual returns on plan assets. Under the Company's current accounting method, both plans use fair value as the market-related value of plan assets and continue to recognize actuarial gains or losses within the corridor in other comprehensive income (loss) but instead of amortizing net actuarial gains or losses in excess of the corridor in future periods, such excess gains and losses, if any, are recognized in net periodic benefit cost as of the plan measurement date, which is the same as the fiscal year end of the Company ( MTM adjustment ). This method is a permitted option which results in immediate recognition of excess net actuarial gains and losses in net periodic benefit cost instead of in other comprehensive income (loss).Such immediate recognition in net periodic benefit cost could potentially increase the volatility of net periodic benefit cost. The MTM adjustments to net periodic benefit cost for fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010 were $ 15.3 million, $0.0 million, and $9.4 million, respectively.
Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Income taxes : Deferred tax expense results from differences in the timing of certain transactions for financial reporting and tax purposes. Deferred taxes have not been recorded on approximately $71.7 million of undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries as of June 30, 2012 or the related unrealized translation adjustments because such amounts are considered permanently invested. In addition, it is possible that remittance taxes, if any, would be reduced by U.S. foreign tax credits. Valuation allowances are recognized if, based on the available evidence, it is more likely than not that some portion of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.
Research and Development Expense, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Research and development : Research and development costs are expensed as incurred and were as follows: $2.2 million in fiscal 2012, $1.9 million in fiscal 2011 and $1.3 million in fiscal 2010 and are included in selling general and administrative expenses.
Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Earnings per share (EPS) : Basic EPS is computed by dividing earnings available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution by securities that could share in the earnings. The Company had 36,555, 19,236, and 12,687 of potentially dilutive common shares in fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively, resulting from shares issuable under its stock option plan. For fiscal year 2012 and 2011, these shares had no impact on the calculated per share amounts. These additional shares are not used for the diluted EPS calculation in loss years.
Foreign Currency Transactions and Translations Policy [Policy Text Block]	Translation of foreign currencies : The financial statements of our foreign subsidiaries, where the local currency is the functional currency, are translated at exchange rates in effect on reporting dates, and income and expense items are translated at average rates or rates in effect on transaction dates as appropriate. The resulting foreign currency translation adjustments are charged or credited directly to the "Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss" account included as part of stockholders' equity.Net foreign currency gains (losses) are disclosed in Note 9.
Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Use of accounting estimates : The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of sales and expenses during the reporting period. Judgments, assumptions and estimates are used for, but not limited to: the allowances for doubtful accounts receivable and returned goods; inventory allowances; income tax valuation allowances, uncertain tax positions and pension obligations. Amounts ultimately realized could differ from those estimates.
Reclassification, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Reclassifications: Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior periods as a result of the current year presentation with no effect on net earnings.
New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Recent A ccounting Pronouncements: In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2011-04 to amend fair value measurements and related disclosures; the guidance becomes effective on a prospective basis for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2012. This new guidance results in a consistent definition of fair value and common requirements for measurement of and disclosure about fair value between International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") and U.S. GAAP. The new guidance also changes some fair value measurement principles and enhances disclosure requirements related to activities in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. The adoption of this updated authoritative guidance is not expected to have any impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements. In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-05 to amend the presentation of comprehensive income in financial statements. This guidance allows companies the option to present other comprehensive income in either a single continuous statement or in two separate but consecutive statements. Under both alternatives, companies will be required to present each component of net income and comprehensive income. The adoption of this updated authoritative guidance will impact the presentation of the Company's consolidated financial statements, but it will not change the items that must be reported in other comprehensive income. The guidance must be applied retrospectively and is effective for the first quarter of fiscal 2013. The Company is in the process of evaluating the presentation options required by this ASU. In September 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-08 to amend the impairment assessment criteria for goodwill. The guidance permits an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is "more likely than not" that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount as a basis for determining whether it is then necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test. The more likely than not threshold is defined as having a likelihood of more than 50%. The guidance is effective for the first quarter of fiscal 2013.The Company is in the process of evaluating whether it will utilize a qualitative approach in its upcoming annual goodwill impairment assessment.