<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<xbrl
  xml:lang="en-US"
  xmlns="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance"
  xmlns:dei="http://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2023"
  xmlns:link="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase"
  xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">
    <link:schemaRef xlink:href="msa-20230531.xsd" xlink:type="simple"/>
    <context id="i7628b56a9a774bb6a1f4d1d6a3522288_D20230531-20230531">
        <entity>
            <identifier scheme="http://www.sec.gov/CIK">0000066570</identifier>
        </entity>
        <period>
            <startDate>2023-05-31</startDate>
            <endDate>2023-05-31</endDate>
        </period>
    </context>
    <dei:AmendmentFlag
      contextRef="i7628b56a9a774bb6a1f4d1d6a3522288_D20230531-20230531"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjUzNjgyMTA4Y2VkMDQ3ZTliNWY0Y2E4MWIwZTJmODdlL3NlYzo1MzY4MjEwOGNlZDA0N2U5YjVmNGNhODFiMGUyZjg3ZV80L2ZyYWc6ODI2NTFlMmVhZTRlNGZjODg1YWU3ZTFmMjk3NzY3OTQvdGFibGU6N2ZjMmNkMWI5YmU1NDlmYTg3ZmEwMjYxNzA1YzI2ZmMvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo3ZmMyY2QxYjliZTU0OWZhODdmYTAyNjE3MDVjMjZmY18zLTItMS0xLTk2OTQ1_3a91d531-f8dc-458f-97eb-cf907eb06ef8">false</dei:AmendmentFlag>
    <dei:EntityCentralIndexKey
      contextRef="i7628b56a9a774bb6a1f4d1d6a3522288_D20230531-20230531"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjUzNjgyMTA4Y2VkMDQ3ZTliNWY0Y2E4MWIwZTJmODdlL3NlYzo1MzY4MjEwOGNlZDA0N2U5YjVmNGNhODFiMGUyZjg3ZV80L2ZyYWc6ODI2NTFlMmVhZTRlNGZjODg1YWU3ZTFmMjk3NzY3OTQvdGFibGU6N2ZjMmNkMWI5YmU1NDlmYTg3ZmEwMjYxNzA1YzI2ZmMvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo3ZmMyY2QxYjliZTU0OWZhODdmYTAyNjE3MDVjMjZmY185LTItMS0xLTk2OTQ1_39c0fc19-b7a3-49fe-bafc-0c4020a1b9c9">0000066570</dei:EntityCentralIndexKey>
    <dei:DocumentType
      contextRef="i7628b56a9a774bb6a1f4d1d6a3522288_D20230531-20230531"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjUzNjgyMTA4Y2VkMDQ3ZTliNWY0Y2E4MWIwZTJmODdlL3NlYzo1MzY4MjEwOGNlZDA0N2U5YjVmNGNhODFiMGUyZjg3ZV8xL2ZyYWc6N2QyN2I1YzJhMmY0NDFmZThlNzAwMGFiODIwMzhlZmMvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo3ZDI3YjVjMmEyZjQ0MWZlOGU3MDAwYWI4MjAzOGVmY18yOTg4_5877604d-87de-4538-b74e-dc3a480457aa">8-K</dei:DocumentType>
    <dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate
      contextRef="i7628b56a9a774bb6a1f4d1d6a3522288_D20230531-20230531"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjUzNjgyMTA4Y2VkMDQ3ZTliNWY0Y2E4MWIwZTJmODdlL3NlYzo1MzY4MjEwOGNlZDA0N2U5YjVmNGNhODFiMGUyZjg3ZV8xL2ZyYWc6N2QyN2I1YzJhMmY0NDFmZThlNzAwMGFiODIwMzhlZmMvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo3ZDI3YjVjMmEyZjQ0MWZlOGU3MDAwYWI4MjAzOGVmY18yNjA_627b3e2e-e991-4942-abd4-6c939d0755c1">2023-05-31</dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate>
    <dei:EntityRegistrantName
      contextRef="i7628b56a9a774bb6a1f4d1d6a3522288_D20230531-20230531"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjUzNjgyMTA4Y2VkMDQ3ZTliNWY0Y2E4MWIwZTJmODdlL3NlYzo1MzY4MjEwOGNlZDA0N2U5YjVmNGNhODFiMGUyZjg3ZV8xL2ZyYWc6N2QyN2I1YzJhMmY0NDFmZThlNzAwMGFiODIwMzhlZmMvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo3ZDI3YjVjMmEyZjQ0MWZlOGU3MDAwYWI4MjAzOGVmY18yOTg0_7d852ec0-7d91-4c07-8169-29ed44d4fafa">MSA SAFETY INCORPORATED</dei:EntityRegistrantName>
    <dei:EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode
      contextRef="i7628b56a9a774bb6a1f4d1d6a3522288_D20230531-20230531"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjUzNjgyMTA4Y2VkMDQ3ZTliNWY0Y2E4MWIwZTJmODdlL3NlYzo1MzY4MjEwOGNlZDA0N2U5YjVmNGNhODFiMGUyZjg3ZV8xL2ZyYWc6N2QyN2I1YzJhMmY0NDFmZThlNzAwMGFiODIwMzhlZmMvdGFibGU6OGQwYWRkNDFhNTFkNDIxMjhjZDhlZDA3NGI5YmZiMzQvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo4ZDBhZGQ0MWE1MWQ0MjEyOGNkOGVkMDc0YjliZmIzNF8wLTAtMS0xLTk2OTQ1_2cda1c6e-b900-4e0f-b5a1-cd29570965d5">PA</dei:EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode>
    <dei:EntityFileNumber
      contextRef="i7628b56a9a774bb6a1f4d1d6a3522288_D20230531-20230531"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjUzNjgyMTA4Y2VkMDQ3ZTliNWY0Y2E4MWIwZTJmODdlL3NlYzo1MzY4MjEwOGNlZDA0N2U5YjVmNGNhODFiMGUyZjg3ZV8xL2ZyYWc6N2QyN2I1YzJhMmY0NDFmZThlNzAwMGFiODIwMzhlZmMvdGFibGU6OGQwYWRkNDFhNTFkNDIxMjhjZDhlZDA3NGI5YmZiMzQvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo4ZDBhZGQ0MWE1MWQ0MjEyOGNkOGVkMDc0YjliZmIzNF8wLTEtMS0xLTk2OTQ1_b73df55e-64bb-472b-a602-6ef2e2788e10">1-15579</dei:EntityFileNumber>
    <dei:EntityTaxIdentificationNumber
      contextRef="i7628b56a9a774bb6a1f4d1d6a3522288_D20230531-20230531"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjUzNjgyMTA4Y2VkMDQ3ZTliNWY0Y2E4MWIwZTJmODdlL3NlYzo1MzY4MjEwOGNlZDA0N2U5YjVmNGNhODFiMGUyZjg3ZV8xL2ZyYWc6N2QyN2I1YzJhMmY0NDFmZThlNzAwMGFiODIwMzhlZmMvdGFibGU6OGQwYWRkNDFhNTFkNDIxMjhjZDhlZDA3NGI5YmZiMzQvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo4ZDBhZGQ0MWE1MWQ0MjEyOGNkOGVkMDc0YjliZmIzNF8wLTItMS0xLTk2OTQ1_94141fdd-db38-4488-8dd9-0b6e302e9e37">46-4914539</dei:EntityTaxIdentificationNumber>
    <dei:EntityAddressAddressLine1
      contextRef="i7628b56a9a774bb6a1f4d1d6a3522288_D20230531-20230531"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjUzNjgyMTA4Y2VkMDQ3ZTliNWY0Y2E4MWIwZTJmODdlL3NlYzo1MzY4MjEwOGNlZDA0N2U5YjVmNGNhODFiMGUyZjg3ZV8xL2ZyYWc6N2QyN2I1YzJhMmY0NDFmZThlNzAwMGFiODIwMzhlZmMvdGFibGU6NDZkNjk4NTM5YmM3NGY0ZjlhMzg4NzU1ODM2YjQyYzUvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo0NmQ2OTg1MzliYzc0ZjRmOWEzODg3NTU4MzZiNDJjNV8wLTAtMS0xLTk2OTQ1_e8cef75f-d657-4b09-8cfc-4e381220eef0">1000 Cranberry Woods Drive</dei:EntityAddressAddressLine1>
    <dei:EntityAddressCityOrTown
      contextRef="i7628b56a9a774bb6a1f4d1d6a3522288_D20230531-20230531"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjUzNjgyMTA4Y2VkMDQ3ZTliNWY0Y2E4MWIwZTJmODdlL3NlYzo1MzY4MjEwOGNlZDA0N2U5YjVmNGNhODFiMGUyZjg3ZV8xL2ZyYWc6N2QyN2I1YzJhMmY0NDFmZThlNzAwMGFiODIwMzhlZmMvdGFibGU6NDZkNjk4NTM5YmM3NGY0ZjlhMzg4NzU1ODM2YjQyYzUvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo0NmQ2OTg1MzliYzc0ZjRmOWEzODg3NTU4MzZiNDJjNV8xLTAtMS0xLTk2OTQ1_421d74e4-2cab-4436-b66e-9cb09185a187">Cranberry Township,</dei:EntityAddressCityOrTown>
    <dei:EntityAddressStateOrProvince
      contextRef="i7628b56a9a774bb6a1f4d1d6a3522288_D20230531-20230531"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjUzNjgyMTA4Y2VkMDQ3ZTliNWY0Y2E4MWIwZTJmODdlL3NlYzo1MzY4MjEwOGNlZDA0N2U5YjVmNGNhODFiMGUyZjg3ZV8xL2ZyYWc6N2QyN2I1YzJhMmY0NDFmZThlNzAwMGFiODIwMzhlZmMvdGFibGU6NDZkNjk4NTM5YmM3NGY0ZjlhMzg4NzU1ODM2YjQyYzUvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo0NmQ2OTg1MzliYzc0ZjRmOWEzODg3NTU4MzZiNDJjNV8xLTEtMS0xLTk2OTQ1_4c79eee4-38ab-498f-bd78-ac1da88d56ae">PA</dei:EntityAddressStateOrProvince>
    <dei:EntityAddressPostalZipCode
      contextRef="i7628b56a9a774bb6a1f4d1d6a3522288_D20230531-20230531"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjUzNjgyMTA4Y2VkMDQ3ZTliNWY0Y2E4MWIwZTJmODdlL3NlYzo1MzY4MjEwOGNlZDA0N2U5YjVmNGNhODFiMGUyZjg3ZV8xL2ZyYWc6N2QyN2I1YzJhMmY0NDFmZThlNzAwMGFiODIwMzhlZmMvdGFibGU6NDZkNjk4NTM5YmM3NGY0ZjlhMzg4NzU1ODM2YjQyYzUvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo0NmQ2OTg1MzliYzc0ZjRmOWEzODg3NTU4MzZiNDJjNV8xLTMtMS0xLTk2OTQ1_2055567c-1844-4a97-a5c0-043aa052e9f6">16066-5207</dei:EntityAddressPostalZipCode>
    <dei:CityAreaCode
      contextRef="i7628b56a9a774bb6a1f4d1d6a3522288_D20230531-20230531"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjUzNjgyMTA4Y2VkMDQ3ZTliNWY0Y2E4MWIwZTJmODdlL3NlYzo1MzY4MjEwOGNlZDA0N2U5YjVmNGNhODFiMGUyZjg3ZV8xL2ZyYWc6N2QyN2I1YzJhMmY0NDFmZThlNzAwMGFiODIwMzhlZmMvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo3ZDI3YjVjMmEyZjQ0MWZlOGU3MDAwYWI4MjAzOGVmY18yOTg1_f40939bf-36ad-4808-90d7-5c812e91f183">724</dei:CityAreaCode>
    <dei:LocalPhoneNumber
      contextRef="i7628b56a9a774bb6a1f4d1d6a3522288_D20230531-20230531"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjUzNjgyMTA4Y2VkMDQ3ZTliNWY0Y2E4MWIwZTJmODdlL3NlYzo1MzY4MjEwOGNlZDA0N2U5YjVmNGNhODFiMGUyZjg3ZV8xL2ZyYWc6N2QyN2I1YzJhMmY0NDFmZThlNzAwMGFiODIwMzhlZmMvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo3ZDI3YjVjMmEyZjQ0MWZlOGU3MDAwYWI4MjAzOGVmY18yOTg2_cf32c71c-9fad-42f4-9e7b-92d6260055f3">776-8600</dei:LocalPhoneNumber>
    <dei:WrittenCommunications
      contextRef="i7628b56a9a774bb6a1f4d1d6a3522288_D20230531-20230531"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjUzNjgyMTA4Y2VkMDQ3ZTliNWY0Y2E4MWIwZTJmODdlL3NlYzo1MzY4MjEwOGNlZDA0N2U5YjVmNGNhODFiMGUyZjg3ZV8xL2ZyYWc6N2QyN2I1YzJhMmY0NDFmZThlNzAwMGFiODIwMzhlZmMvdGFibGU6NTRlZGRmZGE4NGRmNGI2OWFiYzY3MDhhZTBlMDM5ZGMvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo1NGVkZGZkYTg0ZGY0YjY5YWJjNjcwOGFlMGUwMzlkY18wLTAtMS0xLTk2OTQ1_a68c255b-b54e-4703-9e70-788bb7392bb9">false</dei:WrittenCommunications>
    <dei:SolicitingMaterial
      contextRef="i7628b56a9a774bb6a1f4d1d6a3522288_D20230531-20230531"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjUzNjgyMTA4Y2VkMDQ3ZTliNWY0Y2E4MWIwZTJmODdlL3NlYzo1MzY4MjEwOGNlZDA0N2U5YjVmNGNhODFiMGUyZjg3ZV8xL2ZyYWc6N2QyN2I1YzJhMmY0NDFmZThlNzAwMGFiODIwMzhlZmMvdGFibGU6NGQ4NTJjNzQ0OTNlNGM3NDk3YjMzZTI4YmY2YzQ3NDEvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo0ZDg1MmM3NDQ5M2U0Yzc0OTdiMzNlMjhiZjZjNDc0MV8wLTAtMS0xLTk2OTQ1_7a5aca8f-1676-49ce-8a33-932d45e82e56">false</dei:SolicitingMaterial>
    <dei:PreCommencementTenderOffer
      contextRef="i7628b56a9a774bb6a1f4d1d6a3522288_D20230531-20230531"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjUzNjgyMTA4Y2VkMDQ3ZTliNWY0Y2E4MWIwZTJmODdlL3NlYzo1MzY4MjEwOGNlZDA0N2U5YjVmNGNhODFiMGUyZjg3ZV8xL2ZyYWc6N2QyN2I1YzJhMmY0NDFmZThlNzAwMGFiODIwMzhlZmMvdGFibGU6MTVkNjJmNWY2N2IwNGFmMmFkNmQyNDcwMTcwYWMxMTMvdGFibGVyYW5nZToxNWQ2MmY1ZjY3YjA0YWYyYWQ2ZDI0NzAxNzBhYzExM18wLTAtMS0xLTk2OTQ1_eebead4d-3582-4fc7-bab8-0c460b6cf5ad">false</dei:PreCommencementTenderOffer>
    <dei:PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer
      contextRef="i7628b56a9a774bb6a1f4d1d6a3522288_D20230531-20230531"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjUzNjgyMTA4Y2VkMDQ3ZTliNWY0Y2E4MWIwZTJmODdlL3NlYzo1MzY4MjEwOGNlZDA0N2U5YjVmNGNhODFiMGUyZjg3ZV8xL2ZyYWc6N2QyN2I1YzJhMmY0NDFmZThlNzAwMGFiODIwMzhlZmMvdGFibGU6OWQ5NDM4NWVkMmVjNGQ1NzljZWJhYmIzZGU3ZTJhY2QvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo5ZDk0Mzg1ZWQyZWM0ZDU3OWNlYmFiYjNkZTdlMmFjZF8wLTAtMS0xLTk2OTQ1_d6fcdc8f-0cb4-4f11-8a06-e81b19535293">false</dei:PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer>
    <dei:Security12bTitle
      contextRef="i7628b56a9a774bb6a1f4d1d6a3522288_D20230531-20230531"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjUzNjgyMTA4Y2VkMDQ3ZTliNWY0Y2E4MWIwZTJmODdlL3NlYzo1MzY4MjEwOGNlZDA0N2U5YjVmNGNhODFiMGUyZjg3ZV8xL2ZyYWc6N2QyN2I1YzJhMmY0NDFmZThlNzAwMGFiODIwMzhlZmMvdGFibGU6Y2I0N2Y3YzdkM2VjNGFjY2E1NDIxZmRhZWFhNGMyMjAvdGFibGVyYW5nZTpjYjQ3ZjdjN2QzZWM0YWNjYTU0MjFmZGFlYWE0YzIyMF8xLTAtMS0xLTk2OTQ1_8b7781f9-d9b9-4254-a422-e6e2b0332758">Common stock, no par value</dei:Security12bTitle>
    <dei:TradingSymbol
      contextRef="i7628b56a9a774bb6a1f4d1d6a3522288_D20230531-20230531"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjUzNjgyMTA4Y2VkMDQ3ZTliNWY0Y2E4MWIwZTJmODdlL3NlYzo1MzY4MjEwOGNlZDA0N2U5YjVmNGNhODFiMGUyZjg3ZV8xL2ZyYWc6N2QyN2I1YzJhMmY0NDFmZThlNzAwMGFiODIwMzhlZmMvdGFibGU6Y2I0N2Y3YzdkM2VjNGFjY2E1NDIxZmRhZWFhNGMyMjAvdGFibGVyYW5nZTpjYjQ3ZjdjN2QzZWM0YWNjYTU0MjFmZGFlYWE0YzIyMF8xLTEtMS0xLTk2OTQ1_3c426fb3-69b1-4eef-b1dd-754bdc07d878">MSA</dei:TradingSymbol>
    <dei:SecurityExchangeName
      contextRef="i7628b56a9a774bb6a1f4d1d6a3522288_D20230531-20230531"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjUzNjgyMTA4Y2VkMDQ3ZTliNWY0Y2E4MWIwZTJmODdlL3NlYzo1MzY4MjEwOGNlZDA0N2U5YjVmNGNhODFiMGUyZjg3ZV8xL2ZyYWc6N2QyN2I1YzJhMmY0NDFmZThlNzAwMGFiODIwMzhlZmMvdGFibGU6Y2I0N2Y3YzdkM2VjNGFjY2E1NDIxZmRhZWFhNGMyMjAvdGFibGVyYW5nZTpjYjQ3ZjdjN2QzZWM0YWNjYTU0MjFmZGFlYWE0YzIyMF8xLTItMS0xLTk2OTQ1_8b3aba42-0a2c-4580-a5a8-0c809544a879">NYSE</dei:SecurityExchangeName>
    <dei:EntityEmergingGrowthCompany
      contextRef="i7628b56a9a774bb6a1f4d1d6a3522288_D20230531-20230531"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjUzNjgyMTA4Y2VkMDQ3ZTliNWY0Y2E4MWIwZTJmODdlL3NlYzo1MzY4MjEwOGNlZDA0N2U5YjVmNGNhODFiMGUyZjg3ZV8xL2ZyYWc6N2QyN2I1YzJhMmY0NDFmZThlNzAwMGFiODIwMzhlZmMvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjo3ZDI3YjVjMmEyZjQ0MWZlOGU3MDAwYWI4MjAzOGVmY18yOTg3_2c929da5-bbca-4806-af5d-b8c1ba8f86f7">false</dei:EntityEmergingGrowthCompany>
</xbrl>
