Slicers (applies to each fact value in each table cell)

Reporting Entity [Axis]

0000002098 (http://www.sec.gov/CIK)

Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]	Period [Axis]
	2016-01-01 - 2016-12-31
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]
Plan Asset Allocation	Asset Category 2016 2015 Equity Securities 65% 58% Fixed Income Securities 32% 37% Other Securities / Investments 3% 5% Total 100% 100%
Pension Plan Assets by Level	2016   Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total Money Market Fund   $ 19,327     $ 19,897     $ —       $ 39,224   Acme United Common Stock     —         —         —         —     Equity Common and Collected Funds     131,737       705,523       —         837,260   Fixed Income Common and Collected Funds     104,491       313,752       —         418,243   Total   $ 255,555     $ 1,039,172     $ —       $ 1,294,727       2015   Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total Money Market Fund   $ 66,914     $ —       $ —       $ 66,914   Acme United Common Stock     174,000       —         —         174,000   Equity Common and Collected Funds     —         652,135       —         652,135   Fixed Income Common and Collected Funds     —         524,523       —         524,523   Total   $ 240,914     $ 1,176,658     $ —       $ 1,417,572
Changes in Benefit Obligation	2016   2015 Assumptions used to determine benefit obligation:                   Discount rate     3.40 %     3.50 % Changes in benefit obligation:                 Benefit obligation at beginning of year   $ (1,776,788 )   $ (1,904,377 ) Interest cost     (55,811 )     (59,348 ) Service cost     (36,000 )     (25,000 ) Actuarial gain (loss)     99,019       (62,677 ) Benefits and plan expenses paid     269,782       274,614   Benefit obligation at end of year     (1,499,798 )     (1,776,788 )                   Changes in plan assets:                 Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year     1,417,572       1,684,535   Actual return on plan assets     146,937       (22,349 ) Employer contribution     —         30,000   Benefits and plan expenses paid     (269,782 )     (274,614 ) Fair value of plan assets at end of year     1,294,727       1,417,572   Funded status   $ (205,071 )   $ (359,216 )                   Amounts recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income:                 Net actuarial loss   $ 1,128,647     $ 1,423,319   Prior service cost     2,168       2,711   Total   $ 1,130,815     $ 1,426,030
Components of Net Benefit Expense	2016   2015 Assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost:                   Discount rate     3.50 %     3.23 %   Expected return on plan assets     6.00 %     6.00 % Components of net benefit expense:                 Interest cost   $ 55,811     $ 59,348   Service cost     36,000       25,000   Expected return on plan assets     (76,138 )     (92,620 ) Amortization of prior service costs     543       9,155   Amortization of actuarial loss     124,854       122,352   Net periodic benefit cost   $ 141,070     $ 123,235
Amounts Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income	2016   2015           Balance at beginning of the year   $ 1,426,030     $ 1,379,890   Change in net loss     (169,818 )     177,647   Amortization of actuarial loss     (124,854 )     (122,352 ) Amortization of prior service cost     (543 )     (9,155 )      Change recognized in other comprehensive income     (295,215 )     46,140   Total recognized in other comprehensive income   $ 1,130,815     $ 1,426,030
Benefits Expected to be Paid	2017     $ 207,000   2018       187,000   2019       169,000   2020       152,000   2021       136,000   Years 2022 - 2026       488,000