United States Statement, Business Segments [Axis] Canada Europe Pac-Kit Business Acquisition [Axis] The C-Thru Ruler Company $1.70-$5.11 Exercise Price Range [Axis] $5.12-$8.51 $8.52-$10.21 $10.22-$13.62 $13.63-$17.02 Employee Plan Plan Name [Axis] Director Plan Equity Securities Defined Benefit Plan, Asset Categories [Axis] Fixed Income Securities Other Securities/Investments Level 1 Fair Value, Hierarchy [Axis] Level 2 Level 3 Cash Investments Money Market Fund Acme United Common Stock Equity Common and Collected Funds Fixed Income Common and Collected Funds Other International Business Segments [Axis] Common Stock Equity Components [Axis] Minimum Range Range [Axis] Maximum Range Greater Than 10% of Total Net Receivables Major Customers [Axis] Exceeded 10% of Consolidated Net Sales Major Customer No. 1 Concentration Risk Type [Axis] Major Customer No. 2 Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment Net Prior Service Credit and Actuarial Losses Treasury Stock Additional Paid-In Capital Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Retained Earnings Document And Entity Information Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Document Type Document Period End Date Amendment Flag Current Fiscal Year End Date Is Entity a Well-known Seasoned Issuer? Is Entity a Voluntary Filer? Is Entity's Reporting Status Current? Entity Filer Category Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Document Fiscal Period Focus Document Fiscal Year Focus Entity Public Float Consolidated Statements Of Operations Net sales Cost of goods sold Gross profit Selling, general and administrative expenses Operating income Non-operating items: Interest: Interest expense Interest income Interest expense, net Other expense Total other expense, net Income before income tax expense Income tax expense Net income Basic earnings per share Diluted earnings per share Consolidated Statements Of Comprehensive Income Net income Other comprehensive income (loss) - Foreign currency translation Change in net prior service credit and actuarial losses, net of income tax expense Total other comprehensive income (loss) Comprehensive income Statement of Financial Position [Abstract] ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents Accounts receivable, less allowance Inventories Deferred income taxes Prepaid expenses and other current assets Total current assets Property, plant and equipment: Land Buildings Machinery and equipment Total property, plant and equipment Less: accumulated depreciation Net plant, property and equipment Note receivable Intangible assets, less accumulated amortization Deferred income taxes Other assets Total assets LIABILITIES Current liabilities: Accounts payable Other accrued liabilities Total current liabilities Long-term debt Other accrued liabilities - non current Total liabilities STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Common stock, par value $2.50: authorized 8,000,000 shares; issued - 4,563,174 shares in 2013 and 4,487,524 shares in 2012, including treasury stock Treasury stock, at cost, 1,362,072 shares in 2013 and 2012 Additional paid-in capital Accumulated other comprehensive loss Retained earnings Total stockholders' equity Total liabilities and stockholders' equity Common stock, par value Common stock, shares authorized Common stock, shares issued Treasury stock, shares Statement [Table] Statement [Line Items] Balance Balance (shares) Total other comprehensive income (loss) Stock compensation expense Tax benefit from exercise of employee stock options Distribution to shareholders Issuance of common stock Issuance of common stock (shares) Purchase of treasury stock Purchase of treasury stock (shares) Balance Balance (shares) Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract] Operating Activities: Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided (used) by operating activities Depreciation Amortization Stock compensation expense Deferred income taxes Changes in operating assets and liabilities Accounts receivable Inventories Prepaid expenses and other current assets Accounts payable Other accrued liabilities Total adjustments Net cash provided (used) by operating activities Investing Activities: Purchase of property, plant, and equipment Purchase of patents and trademarks Acquisition of assets in business combination Payment received on mortgage receivable Net cash used by investing activities Financing Activities: Net (repayments) borrowings of long-term debt Distributions to shareholders Purchase of treasury stock Issuance of common stock Net cash (used) provided by financing activities Effect of exchange rate changes Net increase in cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year Cash and cash equivalents at end of year Supplemental cash flow information Cash paid for income taxes Cash paid for interest expense Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract] Operations Accounting Policies [Abstract] Accounting Policies Inventory Disclosure [Abstract] Inventories Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract] Intangible Assets Payables and Accruals [Abstract] Other Accrued Liabilities Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract] Pension and Profit Sharing Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract] Income Taxes Debt Debt Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] Commitments and Contingencies Segment Information Segment Information Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract] Stock Option Plans Earnings Per Share [Abstract] Earnings Per Share Equity [Abstract] Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income Financial Instruments Financial Instruments Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract] Quarterly Data (unaudited) Sale Of Property Sale of Property Business Combination Business Combination Accounting Policies Policies Estimates Principles of Consolidation Translation of Foreign Currency Cash Equivalents Accounts Receivable Inventories Property, Plant and Equipment and Depreciation Intangible Assets Deferred Income Taxes Revenue Recognition Research and Development Shipping Costs Advertising Costs Subsequent Events Concentration Recent accounting pronouncements Inventories Intangible Assets Accrued Liabilities Plan Asset Allocation Pension Plan Assets by Level Changes in Benefit Obligation Components of Net Benefit Expense Amounts Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income Benefits Expected to be Paid Income Tax Expense (Benefit) US and Foreign Income Before Income Taxes US Statutory Rate Reconciliation Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities Segment Information Tables Financial Data By Segment Table Reconciliation of Segment Operating Income to Consolidated Income Before Taxes Revenue by Geographic Area Stock Option Activity Summary of Options Outstanding Assumptions Used to Value Option Grants Earnings Per Share Accumulated Comprehensive (Loss) Income Quarterly Data Sale Of Property Tables Accrual for Environmental Remediation Table Business Combination - Business Combination Tables Purchase Price Allocation Concentration Risk Benchmark [Axis] Foreign currency transaction losses during period Certificates of deposit Allowance for doubtful accounts Asset useful life Weighted average intangible assets amortization period Research and development costs during period Shipping costs during period Advertising costs during period Number of major customers Net sales to major customers Finished goods Work in process Materials and supplies Total inventories Inventory valuation allowance Patents Trademarks Pac-Kit Tradename, Customer List C-Thru,Customer List Total Intangible Assets Accumulated amortization Net Intangible Assets Amortization expense - patents and trademarks Estimated aggregate amortization expense: 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Customer rebates Remediation liability Pension liability Other Total accrued liabilities Plan asset weighted average allocation Pension plan assets Assumptions used to determine benefit obligation: Discount rate Changes in benefit obligation: Benefit obligation at beginning of year Interest cost Service cost Actuarial gain (loss) Benefits and plan expenses paid Benefit obligation at end of year Changes in plan assets: Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year Actual return on plan assets Employer contribution Benefits and plan expenses paid Fair value of plan assets at end of year Funded status Assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost: Discount rate Expected return on plan assets Components of net periodic benefit cost: Interest cost Service cost Expected return on plan assets Amortization of prior service costs Amortization of actuarial loss Net periodic benefit cost Balance at beginning of the year Change in net loss Amortization of actuarial loss Amortization of prior service cost Change recognized in other comprehensive income Total recognized in other comprehensive income Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income: Net actuarial loss Prior service cost Total Estimated future benefit payments: 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Years 2019 - 2023 Company contributions to plan Expected plan contributions during 2014 Company shares included in plan Market value of Company shares included in plan Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets Net actuarial loss Prior service cost Company contributions to profit sharing plan Employee contributions to profit sharing plan Total profit sharing contribution expense Pension plan target asset allocation Current: Federal State Foreign Total Current Deferred: Federal State Foreign Total Deferred Total Income Tax Expense (Benefit) United States Foreign Total Federal income taxes at 34% statutory rate State and local taxes, net of federal income tax effect Permanent items Charitable Donations Foreign tax rate difference Change in deferred income tax valuation allowance Provision for income taxes Deferred income tax liabilities: Plant, property and equipment Total Deferred income tax assets: Asset valuations Contribution carryforward Operating loss carryforwards and credits Pension Foreign tax credit Other Total Net deferred income tax asset before valuation allowance Valuation allowance Net deferred income tax asset Foreign earnings repatriated during period Foreign subsidiary earnings Operating loss carryforwards Hong Kong income tax rate Debt Details Narrative Outstanding borrowings under revolving loan agreement Amount available for borrowing under revolving loan agreement Credit facility borrowing capacity Interest rate of LIBOR plus percentage Credit facility interest rate Credit facility expiration date Covenant terms and compliance Rent expense Minimum Annual Rental Commitments 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Operating income Assets Additions to property, plant and equipment Depreciation and amortization Reconciliation Of Segment Operating Income Details Total operating income Interest expense, net Other expense, net Consolidated income before taxes Revenues - United States Revenues - International Total Revenues Segment Information Details Narrative Direct import sales to total net sales ratio Options outstanding at the beginning of the year Options granted Options forfeited Options exercised Options outstanding at the end of the year Options exercisable at the end of the year Common stock available for future grants at the end of the year Weighted average exercise price per share: Granted Forfeited Exercised Outstanding Exercisable Range of exercise prices, lower range Range of exercise prices, upper range Number outstanding Options outstanding weighted-average remaining contractual life (years) Options outstanding weighted-average exercise price Number exercisable Options exercisable weighted-average exercise price Expected life in years Interest rate, minimum Interest rate, maximum Volatility, minimum Volatility, maximum Dividend yield Vesting term Shares available for grant Shares authorized under plan Shares offered under initial option Shares offered under annual option Weighted average remaining contractual term Stock-based compensation Unrecognized compensation cost Unrecognized compensation cost recognition period Weighted average fair value at the date of grant Aggregate intrinsic value of outstanding options Aggregate intrinsic value of exercisable options Aggregate intrinsic value of options exercised Weighted average shares outstanding Effect of dilutive employee stock options Denominator for dilutive earnings per share Dilutive earnings per share Options excluded from earnings per share calculation Accumulated other comprehensive income, beginning balance Change in net prior service credit and actuarial losses, net of tax Translation adjustment Accumulated other comprehensive income, ending balance Dividends per share Sale Of Property Details Narrative Description of property sale Proceeds from sale of property Mortgage receivable from sale of property Interest rate on mortgage receivable Undiscounted environmental remediation liability Payments for remediation Accrual for environmental remediation and monitoring Accrual for environmental remediation and monitoring, current Minimum environmental remediation monitoring period (in years) Proceeds received as repayment of mortgage receivable Contingencies - Accrual For Environmental Remediation Table Details Environmental remediation accrual at December 31, 2012 Payments Environmental remediation accrual at December 31, 2013 Total purchase price of assets Purchase price allocation to tangible assets Purchase price allocated to inventory Purchase price allocated to intangible assets Liabilities assumed as part of Pac-Kit purchase Unaudited proforma net sales during period Unaudited proforma net income during period Integration and transaction costs Purchase price allocation: Accounts receivable Inventory Equipment Intangible assets Total assets Accounts payable Net assets acquired Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred through that date for customer rebates. Number of major customers representing 10% or more of specified benchmarks. Deferred tax asset representing asset valuations. Gross value of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible temporary differences and carryforwards, offset by deferred tax liability attributable to taxable temporary differences prior to valuation allowance. Change in net loss recorded in other comprehensive income related to benefit costs. Percentage of direct import sales to total net sales. Estimated monitoring period after remediation is completed in years. Finite lived intangible asset consisting of trademarks and customer lists. Income tax rate charged in foreign jurisdiction. Permanent items in income tax reconciliation. Gross value of intangible assets, excluding goodwill. Interest rate on mortgage loan receivable. Amount of foreign earnings repatriated during the period. Disclosure of the sale of property. Annual grant of an option to purchase set number of shares of common stock. Initial grant of an option to purchase set number of shares of common stock. Gross Profit Interest Expense, Debt Interest Income (Expense), Net Nonoperating Income (Expense) Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent Assets, Current Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross Property, Plant and Equipment, Net Deferred Tax Assets, Net of Valuation Allowance, Noncurrent Liabilities, Current Liabilities Treasury Stock, Value Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Liabilities and Equity Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding Stock Repurchased During Period, Value Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares Share-based Compensation Deferred Income Taxes and Tax Credits Increase (Decrease) in Receivables Increase (Decrease) in Inventories Increase (Decrease) in Prepaid Expense and Other Assets Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable Increase (Decrease) in Other Accrued Liabilities Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment Payments to Acquire Intangible Assets Payments to Acquire Businesses and Interest in Affiliates Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities Payments of Dividends Payments for Repurchase of Equity Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) Inventory Disclosure [Text Block] Debt Disclosure [Text Block] Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block] Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block] Business Combination Disclosure [Text Block] Inventory, Policy [Policy Text Block] Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block] Schedule of Inventory, Current [Table Text Block] Schedule of Intangible Assets and Goodwill [Table Text Block] Schedule of Calculation of Numerator and Denominator in Earnings Per Share [Table Text Block] IntangibleAssetsGrossExcludingGoodwill Accrued Liabilities [Default Label] Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation Defined Benefit Plan, Assumptions Used Calculating Net Periodic Benefit Cost, Discount Rate Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Return on Plan Assets Defined Benefit Plan, Amortization of Gains (Losses) Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Net of Tax Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Next Twelve Months Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Year Two Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Year Three Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Year Four Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments, Year Five Current Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Deferred Federal Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Deferred State and Local Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Deferred Foreign Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Deferred Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Domestic Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Foreign Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest Deferred Tax Liabilities, Gross Deferred Tax Assets, Other Deferred Tax Assets, Gross DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesGross Valuation Allowance, Amount Deferred Tax Assets, Net Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Next Rolling Twelve Months Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Due in Rolling Year Two Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Due in Rolling Year Three Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Due in Rolling Year Four Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Due in Rolling Year Five Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Number Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Forfeitures in Period Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Assets Acquired Business Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Current Liabilities, Accounts Payable