Document And Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Aug. 18, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	STARRETT L S CO
Entity Central Index Key	0000093676
Trading Symbol	scx
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--06-30
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Public Float			$ 58,068,772
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2017
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2017
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false
Common Class A [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		6,219,238
Common Class B [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		765,545