Commitments and Contingencies	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies	Commitments and Contingencies Product Warranties The Company provides product warranties in connection with the sale of certain products. From time to time, the Company is subject to customer claims with respect to product warranties. Product warranty liabilities were not material as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012. The Company was named in a lawsuit arising out of an alleged breach of contract and implied warranty by a customer of Toolcom Suppliers Limited (“Toolcom”), a business previously included within the former Logistics and Manufacturing Services segment, related to the sale of certain products prior to the Company’s 2005 acquisition of Toolcom. In 2006, the plaintiff filed the lawsuit in civil court in Scotland and asserted that certain products sold were not fit for a particular use. The Company settled the lawsuit during the first quarter of 2013 with an outcome that did not have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements. The final settlement expense is included within the income from operations of discontinued businesses in the consolidated statements of income for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2013. Income Taxes On April 16, 2013, the United States Tax Court rendered an unfavorable decision in the matter Barnes Group Inc. and Subsidiaries v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue (“Tax Court Decision”). The Tax Court rejected the Company's objections and imposed penalties. The case involved IRS proposed adjustments of approximately $16,500, plus a 20% penalty and interest for the tax years 1998, 2000 and 2001. The case arose out of an Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) audit for the tax years 2000 through 2002. The adjustment relates to the federal taxation of foreign income of certain foreign subsidiaries. The Company filed an administrative protest of these adjustments. In the third quarter of 2009, the Company was informed that its protest was denied and a tax assessment was received from the Appeals Office of the IRS. Subsequently, in November 2009, the Company filed a petition against the IRS in the United States Tax Court, contesting the tax assessment. A trial was held and all briefs were filed in 2012. In April 2013 the Tax Court Decision was then issued rendering an unfavorable decision against the Company and imposing penalties. On August 20, 2013, the Tax Court issued an order reflecting the tax and penalties due (“Court Approved Assessment”). Following entry of this order, both parties have until November 18, 2013 to decide whether or not to appeal the Tax Court Decision. On November 18, 2013, or earlier if an appeal is filed by the Company, the Court Approved Assessment becomes due. The Company plans to appeal the Tax Court Decision to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. As a result of the unfavorable Tax Court Decision the Company has recorded an additional tax charge in the first nine months of 2013 for $16,389. The Company's reserve balance now includes the estimated Court Approved Assessment and the presumed utilization of net operating losses related to this matter. In the fourth quarter of 2013, the Company expects to make a cash payment of approximately $13,000 related to tax, interest and penalties as a result of the Tax Court Decision. Acquisition On September 30, 2013, the Company entered into a Share Purchase and Assignment Agreement (the "Share Purchase Agreement") with Otto Männer Holding AG, a German company based in Bahlingen, Germany (the "Seller"), and three shareholders of the Seller, for the acquisition (the "Acquisition") of all the shares of the capital stock of the operating subsidiaries through which the Seller operates (the "Männer Business"). The Männer Business is a leader in the development and manufacture of high precision molds, valve gate hot runner systems, and system solutions for the medical/ pharmaceutical, packaging, and personal care/health care industries. The Männer Business includes manufacturing locations in Germany, Switzerland and the United States, and sales and service offices in Europe, Hong Kong/China and Japan. The purchase price payable by the Company for the Acquisition pursuant to the terms of the Share Purchase Agreement is €275,000, comprised of €247,500 in cash (subject to certain adjustments under the Share Purchase Agreement) and shares of the Company’s common stock having a value of €27,500 as calculated under the Share Purchase Agreement. The Männer Business will operate within the Company's Industrial segment and the Company has funded the cash portion of the purchase price from cash on hand and borrowings under the Amended Credit Facility. The Company completed the acquisition of the Männer business on October 31, 2013. The accounting for the Acquisition has not been completed at the date of this filing given the proximity to the Acquisition date. See Note 14.

Commitments and Contingencies

Product Warranties

The Company provides product warranties in connection with the sale of certain products. From time to time, the Company is subject to customer claims with respect to product warranties. Product warranty liabilities were not material as of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012.

The Company was named in a lawsuit arising out of an alleged breach of contract and implied warranty by a customer of Toolcom Suppliers Limited (“Toolcom”), a business previously included within the former Logistics and Manufacturing Services segment, related to the sale of certain products prior to the Company’s 2005 acquisition of Toolcom. In 2006, the plaintiff filed the lawsuit in civil court in Scotland and asserted that certain products sold were not fit for a particular use. The Company settled the lawsuit during the first quarter of 2013 with an outcome that did not have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements. The final settlement expense is included within the income from operations of discontinued businesses in the consolidated statements of income for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2013.

Income Taxes

On April 16, 2013, the United States Tax Court rendered an unfavorable decision in the matter Barnes Group Inc. and Subsidiaries v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue (“Tax Court Decision”). The Tax Court rejected the Company's objections and imposed penalties. The case involved IRS proposed adjustments of approximately $16,500, plus a 20% penalty and interest for the tax years 1998, 2000 and 2001.

The case arose out of an Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) audit for the tax years 2000 through 2002. The adjustment relates to the federal taxation of foreign income of certain foreign subsidiaries. The Company filed an administrative protest of these adjustments. In the third quarter of 2009, the Company was informed that its protest was denied and a tax assessment was received from the Appeals Office of the IRS. Subsequently, in November 2009, the Company filed a petition against the IRS in the United States Tax Court, contesting the tax assessment. A trial was held and all briefs were filed in 2012. In April 2013 the Tax Court Decision was then issued rendering an unfavorable decision against the Company and imposing penalties.

On August 20, 2013, the Tax Court issued an order reflecting the tax and penalties due (“Court Approved Assessment”). Following entry of this order, both parties have until November 18, 2013 to decide whether or not to appeal the Tax Court Decision. On November 18, 2013, or earlier if an appeal is filed by the Company, the Court Approved Assessment becomes due. The Company plans to appeal the Tax Court Decision to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. As a result of the unfavorable Tax Court Decision the Company has recorded an additional tax charge in the first nine months of 2013 for $16,389. The Company's reserve balance now includes the estimated Court Approved Assessment and the presumed utilization of net operating losses related to this matter.

In the fourth quarter of 2013, the Company expects to make a cash payment of approximately $13,000 related to tax, interest and penalties as a result of the Tax Court Decision.

Acquisition

On September 30, 2013, the Company entered into a Share Purchase and Assignment Agreement (the "Share Purchase Agreement") with Otto Männer Holding AG, a German company based in Bahlingen, Germany (the "Seller"), and three shareholders of the Seller, for the acquisition (the "Acquisition") of all the shares of the capital stock of the operating subsidiaries through which the Seller operates (the "Männer Business"). The Männer Business is a leader in the development and manufacture of high precision molds, valve gate hot runner systems, and system solutions for the medical/ pharmaceutical, packaging, and personal care/health care industries. The Männer Business includes manufacturing locations in Germany, Switzerland and the United States, and sales and service offices in Europe, Hong Kong/China and Japan. The purchase price payable by the Company for the Acquisition pursuant to the terms of the Share Purchase Agreement is €275,000, comprised of €247,500 in cash (subject to certain adjustments under the Share Purchase Agreement) and shares of the Company’s common stock having a value of €27,500 as calculated under the Share Purchase Agreement. The Männer Business will operate within the Company's Industrial segment and the Company has funded the cash portion of the purchase price from cash on hand and borrowings under the Amended Credit Facility. The Company completed the acquisition of the Männer business on October 31, 2013. The accounting for the Acquisition has not been completed at the date of this filing given the proximity to the Acquisition date. See Note 14.