GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES - Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows (Detail) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2014
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]    
Cash provided by (used in) operating activities $ 21,936 $ (20,715)
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:    
Investments in subsidiaries, net   0
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired 0 (21,797)
Capital expenditures (10,140) (6,850)
Short-term investments, net 18,523 (128,216)
Divestitures 0 3,281
Intercompany debt activity, net 0 0
Cash provided by (used in) investing activities 8,383 (153,582)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:    
Proceeds from exercise of employee stock options 1,208 539
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation activity 36 195
Repayments on long-term debt (104) (484)
Intercompany debt activity, net 0 0
Purchase of common stock held in treasury (325) (850)
Other equity activities 0  
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities 815 (600)
Parent company investments/dividends, net   0
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents (4,168) (832)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 26,966 (175,729)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 182,059 343,637
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period 209,025 167,908
RTI International Metals, Inc.    
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]    
Cash provided by (used in) operating activities (1,241) 1,279
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:    
Investments in subsidiaries, net   0
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired   0
Capital expenditures (61) (43)
Short-term investments, net 0 0
Divestitures   0
Intercompany debt activity, net 0 (1,120)
Cash provided by (used in) investing activities (61) (1,163)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:    
Proceeds from exercise of employee stock options 1,208 539
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation activity 36 195
Repayments on long-term debt 0 0
Intercompany debt activity, net 1,249 0
Purchase of common stock held in treasury (325) (850)
Other equity activities (239)  
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities 1,929 (116)
Parent company investments/dividends, net   0
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 0 0
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 627 0
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 0 0
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period 627 0
Guarantor Subsidiaries    
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]    
Cash provided by (used in) operating activities 14,190 (13,239)
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:    
Investments in subsidiaries, net   (852)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired   0
Capital expenditures (9,011) (4,026)
Short-term investments, net 18,523 (128,216)
Divestitures   0
Intercompany debt activity, net 639 (23,816)
Cash provided by (used in) investing activities 10,151 (156,910)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:    
Proceeds from exercise of employee stock options 0 0
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation activity 0 0
Repayments on long-term debt (277) (245)
Intercompany debt activity, net 7,834 (5,825)
Purchase of common stock held in treasury 0 0
Other equity activities 68  
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities 7,625 (5,836)
Parent company investments/dividends, net   234
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 0 0
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 31,966 (175,985)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 117,086 312,202
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period 149,052 136,217
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries    
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]    
Cash provided by (used in) operating activities 8,987 (8,755)
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:    
Investments in subsidiaries, net   852
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired   (21,797)
Capital expenditures (1,068) (2,781)
Short-term investments, net 0 0
Divestitures   3,281
Intercompany debt activity, net (7,834) 6,945
Cash provided by (used in) investing activities (8,902) (13,500)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:    
Proceeds from exercise of employee stock options 0 0
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation activity 0 0
Repayments on long-term debt 173 (239)
Intercompany debt activity, net (1,888) 23,816
Purchase of common stock held in treasury 0 0
Other equity activities 171  
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities (1,544) 23,343
Parent company investments/dividends, net   (234)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents (4,168) (832)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (5,627) 256
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 64,973 31,435
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period 59,346 31,691
Eliminations    
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]    
Cash provided by (used in) operating activities 0 0
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:    
Investments in subsidiaries, net   0
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired   0
Capital expenditures 0 0
Short-term investments, net 0 0
Divestitures   0
Intercompany debt activity, net 7,195 17,991
Cash provided by (used in) investing activities 7,195 17,991
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:    
Proceeds from exercise of employee stock options 0 0
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation activity 0 0
Repayments on long-term debt 0 0
Intercompany debt activity, net (7,195) (17,991)
Purchase of common stock held in treasury 0 0
Other equity activities 0  
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities (7,195) (17,991)
Parent company investments/dividends, net   0
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 0 0
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 0 0
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 0 0
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period 0 0
Restatement Adjustment | Guarantor Subsidiaries    
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:    
Investments in subsidiaries, net   23,816
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:    
Intercompany debt activity, net   23,816
Restatement Adjustment | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries    
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:    
Investments in subsidiaries, net   23,816
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:    
Intercompany debt activity, net   23,816
Restatement Adjustment | Eliminations    
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:    
Investments in subsidiaries, net   (47,632)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:    
Intercompany debt activity, net   $ (47,632)