CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Common Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Accumulated Surplus (Deficit)	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Total Miller Industries, Inc. Shareholders' Equity	Noncontrolling Interests	Total
BALANCE at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 110	$ 147,004	$ 5,400	$ 137	$ 152,651		$ 152,651
Components of comprehensive income:
Net income			9,122		9,122		9,122us-gaap_ProfitLoss
Foreign currency translation adjustments				(207)	(207)		(207)
Total comprehensive income			9,122	(207)	8,915		8,915
Issuance of common stock to non-employee directors (5,154 in 2014, 4,734 in 2013 and 4,737 in 2012)		75			75		75
Exercise of stock options (31,697 in 2014, 102,314 in 2013 and 153,775 in 2012)	2	851			853		853
Stock-based compensation expense		332			332		332
Excess tax effect for stock-based compensation		426			426		426
Dividends paid, $0.60 per share in 2014, $0.56 per share in 2013 and $0.52 per share in 2012			(5,762)		(5,762)		(5,762)us-gaap_DividendsCash
BALANCE at Dec. 31, 2012	112	148,688	8,760	(70)	157,490		157,490
Components of comprehensive income:
Net income			9,230		9,230	(542)	8,688us-gaap_ProfitLoss
Foreign currency translation adjustments				1,175	1,175		1,175
Derivative instrument and hedging activities				(291)	(291)		(291)
Total comprehensive income			9,230	884	10,114	(542)	9,572
Capital Contribution from noncontrolling interest holder						24	24
Issuance of common stock to non-employee directors (5,154 in 2014, 4,734 in 2013 and 4,737 in 2012)		75			75		75
Exercise of stock options (31,697 in 2014, 102,314 in 2013 and 153,775 in 2012)	1	620			621		621
Excess tax effect for stock-based compensation		225			225		225
Dividends paid, $0.60 per share in 2014, $0.56 per share in 2013 and $0.52 per share in 2012			(6,294)		(6,294)		(6,294)us-gaap_DividendsCash
BALANCE at Dec. 31, 2013	113	149,608	11,696	814	162,231	(518)	161,713
Components of comprehensive income:
Net income			14,904		14,904	(66)	14,838us-gaap_ProfitLoss
Foreign currency translation adjustments				(2,503)	(2,503)		(2,503)
Derivative instrument and hedging activities				291	291		291
Total comprehensive income			14,904	(2,212)	12,692	(66)	12,626
Disposition of noncontrolling interest						584	584
Issuance of common stock to non-employee directors (5,154 in 2014, 4,734 in 2013 and 4,737 in 2012)		96			96		96
Exercise of stock options (31,697 in 2014, 102,314 in 2013 and 153,775 in 2012)		186			186		186
Excess tax effect for stock-based compensation		27			27		27
Dividends paid, $0.60 per share in 2014, $0.56 per share in 2013 and $0.52 per share in 2012			(6,778)		(6,778)		(6,778)us-gaap_DividendsCash
BALANCE at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 113	$ 149,917	$ 19,822	$ (1,398)	$ 168,454		$ 168,454

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Amount of increase in additional paid in capital (APIC) resulting from a tax benefit associated with share-based compensation plan other than an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). Includes, but is not limited to, excess tax benefit.

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Amount after tax of increase (decrease) in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from net income and other comprehensive income. Excludes changes in equity resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners.

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Amount of increase in noncontrolling interest from sale of a portion of the parent's controlling interest.

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Amount after tax and reclassification adjustments, of increase (decrease) in accumulated gain (loss) from derivative instruments designated and qualifying as the effective portion of cash flow hedges and an entity's share of an equity investee's increase (decrease) in deferred hedging gain (loss), attributable to parent entity.

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Value of stock issued as a result of the exercise of stock options.

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