Pension and other postretirement benefits - fair values of pension plan assets (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Cash
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets		$ 437
Money market funds
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets		76
Equity Securities | Managed Volatility
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets		88,051
Equity Securities | U.S. Small/Mid-Cap Equity
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets		24,785
Equity Securities | World Equity (excluding United States)
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets		33,376
Equity Securities | Common Equity Securities – Teleflex Incorporated
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets		18,838
Equity Securities | Diversified Global
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets		5,086
Fixed Income Investments | Long duration bond fund
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets		73,544
Fixed Income Investments | High yield bond fund
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets		15,451
Fixed Income Investments | Emerging Markets
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets		9,412
Fixed Income Investments | Corporate, government and foreign bonds
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets		1,864
Fixed Income Investments | Asset backed – home loans
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets		527
Other Investments | Multi asset funds
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets		9,622
Other Investments | Other
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets		5
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Cash
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets		437
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Money market funds
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets		76
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Equity Securities | Managed Volatility
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets		88,051
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Equity Securities | U.S. Small/Mid-Cap Equity
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets		24,785
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Equity Securities | World Equity (excluding United States)
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets		33,376
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Equity Securities | Common Equity Securities – Teleflex Incorporated
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets		18,838
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Equity Securities | Diversified Global
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets		5,086
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Fixed Income Investments | Long duration bond fund
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets		73,544
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Fixed Income Investments | High yield bond fund
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets		15,451
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Fixed Income Investments | Emerging Markets
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets		9,412
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Fixed Income Investments | Corporate, government and foreign bonds
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets		1,864
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Fixed Income Investments | Asset backed – home loans
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Other Investments | Multi asset funds
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets		5,460
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Other Investments | Other
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets
Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Cash
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets
Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Money market funds
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets
Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Equity Securities | Managed Volatility
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets
Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Equity Securities | U.S. Small/Mid-Cap Equity
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets
Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Equity Securities | World Equity (excluding United States)
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets
Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Equity Securities | Common Equity Securities – Teleflex Incorporated
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets
Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Equity Securities | Diversified Global
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets
Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Fixed Income Investments | Long duration bond fund
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets
Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Fixed Income Investments | High yield bond fund
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets
Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Fixed Income Investments | Emerging Markets
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets
Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Fixed Income Investments | Corporate, government and foreign bonds
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets
Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Fixed Income Investments | Asset backed – home loans
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets		527
Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Other Investments | Multi asset funds
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets		4,162
Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Other Investments | Other
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Cash
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Money market funds
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Equity Securities | Managed Volatility
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Equity Securities | U.S. Small/Mid-Cap Equity
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Equity Securities | World Equity (excluding United States)
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Equity Securities | Common Equity Securities – Teleflex Incorporated
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Equity Securities | Diversified Global
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Fixed Income Investments | Long duration bond fund
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Fixed Income Investments | High yield bond fund
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Fixed Income Investments | Emerging Markets
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Fixed Income Investments | Corporate, government and foreign bonds
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Fixed Income Investments | Asset backed – home loans
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Other Investments | Multi asset funds
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Other Investments | Other
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets		5
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Total investments at fair value	$ 321,514	281,074
Investments measured at net asset value	64,793	59,191
Fair value of plan assets	386,307	340,265
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Cash
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	1,324
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Money market funds
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	51
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Equity Securities | Managed Volatility
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	79,964
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Equity Securities | U.S. Small/Mid-Cap Equity
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	19,239
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Equity Securities | World Equity (excluding United States)
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	32,294
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Equity Securities | Common Equity Securities – Teleflex Incorporated
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	29,087
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Equity Securities | Diversified Global
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	6,353
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Fixed Income Investments | Intermediate duration bond fund
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	23,378	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Fixed Income Investments | Long duration bond fund
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	94,623
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Fixed Income Investments | High yield bond fund
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	12,420
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Fixed Income Investments | Emerging Markets
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	9,184
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Fixed Income Investments | Corporate, government and foreign bonds
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	2,024
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Fixed Income Investments | Asset backed – home loans
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	454
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Other Investments | Multi asset funds
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	11,114
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Other Investments | Other
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	5
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	316,128	276,380
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Cash
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	1,324
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Money market funds
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	51
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Equity Securities | Managed Volatility
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	79,964
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Equity Securities | U.S. Small/Mid-Cap Equity
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	19,239
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Equity Securities | World Equity (excluding United States)
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	32,294
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Equity Securities | Common Equity Securities – Teleflex Incorporated
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	29,087
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Equity Securities | Diversified Global
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	6,353
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Fixed Income Investments | Intermediate duration bond fund
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	23,378
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Fixed Income Investments | Long duration bond fund
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	94,623
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Fixed Income Investments | High yield bond fund
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	12,420
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Fixed Income Investments | Emerging Markets
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	9,184
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Fixed Income Investments | Corporate, government and foreign bonds
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	2,024
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Fixed Income Investments | Asset backed – home loans
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Other Investments | Multi asset funds
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	6,187
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) | Other Investments | Other
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2)
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	5,381	4,689
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Cash
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Money market funds
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Equity Securities | Managed Volatility
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Equity Securities | U.S. Small/Mid-Cap Equity
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Equity Securities | World Equity (excluding United States)
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Equity Securities | Common Equity Securities – Teleflex Incorporated
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Equity Securities | Diversified Global
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Fixed Income Investments | Intermediate duration bond fund
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Fixed Income Investments | Long duration bond fund
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Fixed Income Investments | High yield bond fund
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Fixed Income Investments | Emerging Markets
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Fixed Income Investments | Corporate, government and foreign bonds
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Fixed Income Investments | Asset backed – home loans
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	454
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Other Investments | Multi asset funds
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	4,927
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2) | Other Investments | Other
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	5	5
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Cash
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Money market funds
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Equity Securities | Managed Volatility
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Equity Securities | U.S. Small/Mid-Cap Equity
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Equity Securities | World Equity (excluding United States)
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Equity Securities | Common Equity Securities – Teleflex Incorporated
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Equity Securities | Diversified Global
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Fixed Income Investments | Intermediate duration bond fund
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Fixed Income Investments | Long duration bond fund
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Fixed Income Investments | High yield bond fund
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Fixed Income Investments | Emerging Markets
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Fixed Income Investments | Corporate, government and foreign bonds
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Fixed Income Investments | Asset backed – home loans
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Other Investments | Multi asset funds
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) | Other Investments | Other
Schedule Of Pension Plan Assets By Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	$ 5