Stockholders' Equity (Details) | Nov. 07, 2017$ / sharesshares | Feb. 28, 2019shares | Feb. 28, 2018shares | Feb. 28, 2017shares | Dec. 31, 2020USD ($)$ / sharesshares | Dec. 31, 2019USD ($)$ / sharesshares | Dec. 31, 2018USD ($)$ / sharesshares | Dec. 31, 2017USD ($)$ / sharesshares | Dec. 31, 2016USD ($)$ / sharesshares | Dec. 31, 2015shares | Dec. 31, 2014shares |
Preferred Stock, Number of Shares, Par Value and Other Disclosures [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Preferred stock, issued | | | | | | 0 | 0 | | | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares issued | 17,000,000 | | | | | | | | | | |
Price per share of shares issued (in dollars per share) | $ / shares | $ 24 | | | | | | | | | | |
Issuance of common stock | $ | | | | | | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 397,800,000 | | | |
Granted (shares) | | | | | | 396,000 | 290,000 | 378,000 | | | |
Common stock shares available for future awards | | | | | | 4,100,000 | | | | | |
Shares vested | | | | | | 681,000 | 540,000 | 591,000 | | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares [Roll Forward] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Nonvested beginning of the year (shares) | | | | | 756,000 | 1,055,000 | 1,320,000 | 1,852,000 | | | |
Granted (shares) | | | | | | 396,000 | 290,000 | 378,000 | | | |
Vested (shares) | | | | | | (681,000) | (540,000) | (591,000) | | | |
Forfeited (shares) | | | | | | (14,000) | (15,000) | (319,000) | | | |
Nonvested end of the year (shares) | | | | | | 756,000 | 1,055,000 | 1,320,000 | 1,852,000 | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value [Roll Forward] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Beginning balance (in dollars per share) | $ / shares | | | | | $ 24,200,000 | $ 28,300,000 | $ 32,500,000 | $ 51,500,000 | | | |
Granted (in dollars per share) | $ / shares | | | | | | 10,800,000 | 7,800,000 | 7,100,000 | | | |
Vested (in dollars per share) | $ / shares | | | | | | (14,500,000) | (11,700,000) | (16,900,000) | | | |
Forfeited (in dollars per share) | $ / shares | | | | | | (400,000) | (300,000) | (9,200,000) | | | |
Ending balance (in dollars per share) | $ / shares | | | | | | $ 24,200,000 | $ 28,300,000 | $ 32,500,000 | $ 51,500,000 | | |
Retained Earnings Note Disclosure [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Undistributed earnings of investees accounted for under equity method | $ | | | | | | $ 14,500,000 | | | | | |
Restricted Stock [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income target attainment measurement period | | | | | | 3 years | | | | | |
Restricted stock and RSUs [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Share based compensation expense | $ | | | | | | $ 9,800,000 | $ 9,700,000 | $ 9,800,000 | | | |
Unrecognized compensation expense | $ | | | | | | $ 5,900,000 | | | | | |
Performance Awards [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares [Roll Forward] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Forfeited (shares) | | | | | | (48,598) | (21,848) | (67,521) | | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value [Roll Forward] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Granted (in dollars per share) | $ / shares | | | | | | $ 14,700,000 | $ 12,900,000 | $ 12,400,000 | | | |
Forfeited (in dollars per share) | $ / shares | | | | | | $ (1,100,000) | $ (500,000) | $ (1,000,000) | | | |
2016 LTIP [Member] | Restricted Share Units [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares vested | | 175,287 | 178,335 | 190,421 | | | | | | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares [Roll Forward] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Vested (shares) | | (175,287) | (178,335) | (190,421) | | | | | | | |
2017 RSU [Member] | Restricted Share Units [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Granted (shares) | | | | | | | | 320,808 | | | |
Shares vested | | 102,188 | 102,279 | | | | | | | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares [Roll Forward] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Granted (shares) | | | | | | | | 320,808 | | | |
Vested (shares) | | (102,188) | (102,279) | | | | | | | | |
2018 RSU [Member] | Restricted Share Units [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Granted (shares) | | | | | | | 253,393 | | | | |
Shares vested | | 83,312 | | | | | | | | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares [Roll Forward] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Granted (shares) | | | | | | | 253,393 | | | | |
Vested (shares) | | (83,312) | | | | | | | | | |
2019 RSU [Member] | Restricted Share Units [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Granted (shares) | | | | | | 345,400 | | | | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares [Roll Forward] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Granted (shares) | | | | | | 345,400 | | | | | |
Long-Term Shareholder Value (LTSV) 2015 [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Percent of performance metric expected to be obtained | | | | | | | | 60.00% | | | |
Shares vested | | | | | | | | 73,734 | | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares [Roll Forward] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Vested (shares) | | | | | | | | (73,734) | | | |
Forfeited (shares) | | | | | | | | (49,148) | | | |
Long-Term Shareholder Value (LTSV) 2015 [Member] | Restricted Stock [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Income target attainment measurement period | | | | | | 3 years | | | | | |
PRSP 2012 [Member] | Restricted Stock [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares vested | | | | 166,929 | | | | | | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares [Roll Forward] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Vested (shares) | | | | (166,929) | | | | | | | |
Forfeited (shares) | | | | | | | | | | | (171,083) |
PRSP 2013 [Member] | Restricted Stock [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares vested | | | 233,896 | | | | | | | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares [Roll Forward] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Vested (shares) | | | (233,896) | | | | | | | | |
Forfeited (shares) | | | | | | | | | | (244,899) | |
PRSP 2014 [Member] | Restricted Stock [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares vested | | 207,751 | | | | | | | | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares [Roll Forward] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Vested (shares) | | (207,751) | | | | | | | | | |
Forfeited (shares) | | | | | | | | | (214,571) | | |
PRSP 2015 [Member] | Restricted Stock [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares vested | | | | | | | | 126,585 | | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares [Roll Forward] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Vested (shares) | | | | | | | | (126,585) | | | |
Forfeited (shares) | | | | | | | | (196,196) | | | |
PSU [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Adjustment percentage | | | | | | 20.00% | 20.00% | | | | |
PSU [Member] | Performance Awards [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Performance measurement period | | | | | | 3 years | | | | | |
Share based compensation expense | $ | | | | | | $ 14,600,000 | $ 11,400,000 | $ 3,800,000 | | | |
Common stock shares available for future awards | | | | | | 1,800,000 | | | | | |
Unrecognized compensation expense | $ | | | | | | $ 12,900,000 | | | | | |
TSR Modifier [Member] | Performance Awards [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Performance measurement period | | | | | | | 3 years | | | | |
TSR and TSRP Awards [Member] | Performance Awards [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Share based compensation expense | $ | | | | | | | | $ 3,600,000 | | | |
2016 PSU [Member] | Performance Awards [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares vested | | | | | | | 329,897 | | | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares [Roll Forward] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Vested (shares) | | | | | | | (329,897) | | | | |
2017 PSU [Member] | Performance Awards [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Granted (shares) | | | | | | | | 589,980 | | | |
Shares vested | | | | | | 669,898 | | | | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares [Roll Forward] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Granted (shares) | | | | | | | | 589,980 | | | |
Vested (shares) | | | | | | (669,898) | | | | | |
2018 PSU [Member] | Performance Awards [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Granted (shares) | | | | | | | 456,318 | | | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares [Roll Forward] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Granted (shares) | | | | | | | 456,318 | | | | |
2019 PSU [Member] | Performance Awards [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Granted (shares) | | | | | | 479,364 | | | | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares [Roll Forward] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Granted (shares) | | | | | | 479,364 | | | | | |
Minimum | Restricted Stock [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Award vesting period | | | | | | 3 years | | | | | |
Minimum | PSU [Member] | Performance Awards [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expected compensation cost | $ | | | | | | $ 0 | | | | | |
Minimum | TSR and TSRP Awards [Member] | Performance Awards [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Award multiplier | | | | | | | | 0 | | | |
Minimum | 2017 PSU [Member] | Performance Awards [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Attainment level range (percent) | | | | | | 25.00% | | | | | |
Minimum | 2018 and 2019 PSU [Member] | Performance Awards [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Attainment level range (percent) | | | | | | 25.00% | | | | | |
Maximum | Restricted Stock [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Award vesting period | | | | | | 5 years | | | | | |
Maximum | PSU [Member] | Performance Awards [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expected compensation cost | $ | | | | | | $ 51,000,000 | | | | | |
Maximum | TSR and TSRP Awards [Member] | Performance Awards [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Award multiplier | | | | | | | | 2 | | | |
Maximum | 2017 PSU [Member] | Performance Awards [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Attainment level range (percent) | | | | | | 150.00% | | | | | |
Maximum | 2018 and 2019 PSU [Member] | Performance Awards [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Attainment level range (percent) | | | | | | 200.00% | | | | | |
Forecast [Member] | Restricted stock and RSUs [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Share based compensation expense | $ | | | | | $ 4,600,000 | | | | | | |
Forecast [Member] | PSU [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Share based compensation expense | $ | | | | | $ 7,700,000 | | | | | | |
Domestic Bank Group $500 million asset-based credit facility [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Debt instrument carrying amount | $ | | | | | | $ 0 | $ 0 | | | | |
Allegheny Technologies $350 million 9.375% Senior Notes due 2019 | | | | | | | | | | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Debt instrument carrying amount | $ | | | | | | | | | $ 350,000,000 | | |
Debt instrument interest rate stated percentage | | | | | | | | | 9.375% | | |
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Domestic Bank Group $500 million asset-based credit facility [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] | | | | | | | | | | | |
Debt covenant, line of credit facility remaining borrowing capacity after dividends, upper threshold | $ | | | | | | $ 150,000,000 | | | | | |
Debt covenant, line of credit facility remaining borrowing capacity after dividends as percent of maximum borrowing capacity, upper threshold | | | | | | 30.00% | | | | | |
Debt covenant, line of credit facility remaining borrowing capacity after dividends, lower threshold | $ | | | | | | $ 75,000,000 | | | | | |
Debt covenant, line of credit facility remaining borrowing capacity after dividends as percent of maximum borrowing capacity, lower threshold | | | | | | 15.00% | | | | | |
Fixed charge coverage ratio | | | | | | 1 | | | | | |