Quarterly Financial Data - Summarized Quarterly Financial Data (Detail) - USD ($)
$ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
Sep. 30, 2016
Jun. 30, 2016
Mar. 31, 2016
Dec. 31, 2015
Sep. 30, 2015
Jun. 30, 2015
Mar. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2016
Dec. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]                      
Net revenues $ 64,979 $ 62,636 $ 75,958 $ 85,386 $ 76,139 $ 78,252 $ 80,426 $ 84,864 $ 288,959 $ 319,681 $ 177,002
Gross Profit 10,012 10,294 13,440 14,838 12,497 14,500 16,346 15,563 48,584 58,906 36,263
Net (loss) income from continuing operations attributable to shareholders of Manitex International,Inc. (7,040) (9,030) (4,151) (980) (3,832) 2,636 (3,150) (963)      
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations (7,237) (11,527) 2,365 2,440 (1,663) (1,977) 3,122 455 $ (13,959) $ (63) $ (76)
Net income (loss) attributable to shareholders of Manitex International, Inc. $ (14,277) $ (20,557) $ (1,786) $ 1,460 $ (5,495) $ 659 $ (28) $ (508)      
Earnings (loss) Per Share Basic                      
(Loss) Earnings from continuing operations attributable to shareholders of Manitex International, Inc. $ (0.44) $ (0.56) $ (0.26) $ (0.06) $ (0.24) $ 0.16 $ (0.20) $ (0.06)      
Earnings (Loss) from discontinued operations attributable to shareholders of Manitex International, Inc. (0.45) (0.71) 0.15 0.15 (0.10) (0.12) 0.19 0.03      
Earnings (Loss) attributable to shareholders of Manitex International, Inc. (0.88) (1.27) (0.11) 0.09 (0.34) 0.04 0.00 (0.03)      
Earnings Per Share Diluted                      
(Loss) Earnings from continuing operations attributable to shareholders of Manitex International, Inc. (0.44) (0.56) (0.26) (0.06) (0.24) 0.16 (0.20) (0.06)      
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to shareholders of Manitex International, Inc. (0.45) (0.71) 0.15 0.15 (0.10) (0.12) 0.19 0.03      
Earnings (Loss) attributable to shareholders of Manitex International, Inc. $ (0.88) $ (1.27) $ (0.11) $ 0.09 $ (0.34) $ 0.04 $ 0.00 $ (0.03)      
Basic 16,174,403 16,127,346 16,125,788 16,105,601 16,015,219 16,014,594 16,014,059 15,836,423 16,133,284 15,970,074 13,858,189
Diluted 16,174,403 16,127,346 16,125,788 16,105,601 16,015,219 16,039,361 16,014,059 15,836,423 16,133,284 15,970,074 13,904,289