QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Revenue									$ 518,920	$ 519,289	$ 521,100
Gross Margin									188,173	191,906	199,212
Net earnings attributable to Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc.	$ 12,175	$ 26,104	$ 10,489	$ 8,125	$ 31,985	$ 26,933	$ 11,895	$ 10,051	$ 56,893	$ 80,864	$ 67,510
Net earnings attributable to Tootsie Roll Industries, Inc. per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.19	$ 0.41	$ 0.16	$ 0.13	$ 0.49	$ 0.42	$ 0.18	$ 0.15	$ 0.89	$ 1.24	$ 1.02
Stock dividend rate (as a percent)			3.00%				3.00%		3.00%	3.00%	3.00%
Favorable adjustment, per share					$ 0.31					$ 0.31
Favorable adjustment					$ 20,318
Product
Revenue	$ 127,264	$ 181,505	$ 105,623	$ 100,859	125,179	$ 182,173	$ 104,897	$ 103,425	$ 515,251	$ 515,674	$ 517,373
Gross Margin	$ 45,945	$ 66,259	$ 38,142	$ 35,025	$ 44,657	$ 67,203	$ 39,516	$ 37,887	185,371	189,263	196,504
Rental and Royalty
Revenue									3,669	3,615	3,727
Gross Margin									$ 2,802	$ 2,643	$ 2,708