Document And Entity Information [Abstract] Document Information [Table] Legal Entity [Axis] Legal Entity [Axis] Document Type Amendment Flag Document Period End Date Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Current Fiscal Year End Date Entity Filer Category Trading Symbol Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Other Liabilities Disclosure [Abstract] Other Liabilities Disclosure [Text Block] Other Liabilities Disclosure [Text Block] Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract] Restructuring and Related Activities Disclosure [Text Block] Accounting Policies [Abstract] Basis of Accounting, Policy [Policy Text Block] Use Of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block] Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block] Inventory, Policy [Policy Text Block] Inventory, Policy [Policy Text Block] Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block] Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block] Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block] Share-Based Compensation, Option and Incentive Plans Policy [Policy Text Block] Share-based Compensation, Option and Incentive Plans Policy [Policy Text Block] New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block] New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block] Schedule of Inventory, Current [Table Text Block] Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs, Share-Based Payments [Abstract] Schedule Of Share-Based Payment Award, Stock Options, Valuation Assumptions [Table Text Block] Schedule of Share-based Payment Award, Stock Options, Valuation Assumptions [Table Text Block] Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Stock Options, Activity [Table Text Block] Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Non Vested [Table Text Block] Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Non Vested [Table Text Block] Tabular disclosure of the total compensation cost related to non-vested stock options granted, vested and forfeited during the period. Schedule Of Debt [Table Text Block] Schedule of Debt [Table Text Block] Inventory, Current [Table] Class Of Stock [Axis] Class of Stock [Axis] Class Of Stock [Domain] Class of Stock [Domain] Inventory [Line Items] Inventory, Raw Materials, Gross Raw materials Inventory, Work in Process, Gross Work in process, including manufactured parts and components Inventory, Finished Goods, Gross Finished goods Inventory, Net, Total Inventories, net Inventories, net Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Table] Major Customers [Axis] Major Customers [Axis] Name Of Major Customer [Domain] Name of Major Customer [Domain] Range [Axis] Range [Axis] Range [Domain] Range [Domain] Concentration Risk Benchmark [Axis] Concentration Risk Benchmark [Domain] Antidilutive Securities [Axis] Antidilutive Securities, Name [Domain] Convertible Debt Securities [Member] Warrant [Member] Equity Option [Member] Equity Components [Axis] Equity Component [Domain] Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount Statement Of Financial Position [Abstract] Statement [Table] Statement [Table] Statement, Scenario [Axis] Scenario, Unspecified [Domain] Statement [Line Items] Statement [Line Items] Assets [Abstract] Assets Assets, Current [Abstract] Current assets: Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value, Total Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period Cash and cash equivalents at end of period Accounts Receivable, Net, Current, Total Accounts receivable (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $15,000 in 2015 and 2014) Other Assets, Current Other current assets Assets, Current, Total Total current assets Property, Plant and Equipment, Net [Abstract] Plant and equipment: Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross Plant and equipment, at cost Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Total Total plant and equipment Inventory, Noncurrent, Total Precious Metals Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net, Total Intangible Assets, net Other Assets, Noncurrent Other Assets Assets, Total Total Assets Liabilities and Equity [Abstract] Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity Liabilities, Current [Abstract] Current Liabilities: Long-term Debt, Current Maturities, Total Current portion of other long term notes Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities, Current, Total Accounts payable and accrued liabilities Customer Advances, Current Customer advances Liabilities, Current, Total Total current liabilities Related Party Convertible Notes Payable Related Party Convertible Notes Payable Other Notes Payable, Noncurrent Other Long Term Notes, net of current portion Long-term debt, excluding current portion Liabilities, Total Total liabilities Stockholders Equity Attributable To Parent [Abstract] Shareholders' Equity: Common Stock, Value, Issued Common stock: $.01 par value; 60,000,000 authorized shares; 12,737,808 shares issued at September 30, 2015 and 12,354,093 issued at December 31, 2014 Additional Paid In Capital, Common Stock Capital in excess of par value Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) Accumulated deficit Stockholders Equity Before Treasury Stock Stockholders' Equity before Treasury Stock Treasury Stock, Value Less - Common stock in treasury, at cost (4,600 shares) Stockholders' Equity Attributable To Parent Total shareholders’ equity Liabilities and Stockholders Equity Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity Schedule of Share-based Compensation Arrangements by Share-based Payment Award [Table] Maximum [Member] Minimum [Member] Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] Share-Based Compensation Arrangement By Share-Based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Dividend Rate Expected Dividend yield Share-Based Compensation Arrangement By Share-Based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Volatility Rate Expected Volatility Share-Based Compensation Arrangement By Share-Based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Risk Free Interest Rate Risk-free interest rate Share-Based Compensation Arrangement By Share-Based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Term Expected term Entity [Domain] Entity [Domain] Share-Based Compensation Arrangement By Share-Based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Number Number of Options, Outstanding at January 1, 2015 Number of Options, Outstanding at September 30, 2015 Share-Based Compensation Arrangement By Share-Based Payment Award, Options, Grants In Period, Net Of Forfeitures Number of Options, Granted Share-Based Compensation Arrangement By Share-Based Payment Award, Options, Exercises In Period Number of Options, Exercised Share-Based Compensation Arrangement By Share-Based Payment Award, Options, Forfeitures and Expirations In Period Number of Options, Expired/Forfeited Share-Based Compensation Arrangement By Share-Based Payment Award, Options, Exercisable, Number Number of Options, Exercisable at September 30, 2015 Share-Based Compensation Arrangement By Share-Based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price Weighted Average Exercise Price per Option, Outstanding at January 1, 2015 Weighted Average Exercise Price per Option, Outstanding at September 30, 2015 Share-Based Compensation Arrangements By Share-Based Payment Award, Options, Grants In Period, Weighted Average Exercise Price Weighted Average Exercise Price per Option, Granted Share-Based Compensation Arrangements By Share-Based Payment Award, Options, Exercises In Period, Weighted Average Exercise Price Weighted Average Exercise Price per Option, Exercised Share-Based Compensation Arrangement By Share-Based Payment Award, Options, Forfeitures and Expirations In Period, Weighted Average Exercise Price Weighted Average Exercise Price per Option, Expired/Forfeited Share-Based Compensation Arrangement By Share-Based Payment Award, Options, Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price Weighted Average Exercise Price per Option, Exercisable at September 30, 2015 Share-Based Compensation Arrangement By Share-Based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term, Options Outstanding Share-Based Compensation Arrangement By Share-Based Payment Award, Options, Exercisable, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term, Exercisable at September 30, 2015 Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Intrinsic Value Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Options Outstanding (in dollars) Plan Name [Axis] Schedule of Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Type and Plan Name [Axis] Award Type [Domain] Share-based Compensation Arrangements by Share-based Payment Award, Award Type and Plan Name [Domain] Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares, Beginning Balance Options - Non-vested - January 1, 2015 Options - Non-vested - September 30, 2015 Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Gross Options - Granted Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested, Number of Shares Options - Vested Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Nonvested Options Forfeited, Number of Shares Options - Forfeited Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Nonvested, Weighted Average Exercise Price, Beginning Balance Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value, Non-vested at January 1, 2015 (in dollars per share) Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value, Non-vested at September 30, 2015 (in dollars per share) Share-Based Compensation Arrangement By Share-Based Payment Award, Options, Grants In Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value - Granted (in dollars per share) Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value - Vested (in dollars per share) Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Nonvested Options Forfeited, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Weighted-Average Grant-Date Fair Value - Forfeited (in dollars per share) Employee Stock Option [Member] Restricted Stock Units (Rsus) [Member] Type Of Deferred Compensation [Axis] Type of Deferred Compensation [Axis] Equity-Based Arrangements, Individual Contracts, Type of Deferred Compensation [Domain] Type of Deferred Compensation, All Types [Domain] Income Statement Location [Axis] Income Statement Location [Domain] Cost of Sales [Member] Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member] Employee Service Share-Based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Total Compensation Cost Not Yet Recognized Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Total Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized Employee Service Share-Based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Total Compensation Cost Not Yet Recognized, Period For Recognition Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Total Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized, Period for Recognition (in years) Share-Based Compensation Arrangement By Share-Based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other Than Options, Vested In Period, Total Fair Value Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Vested in Period, Total Fair Value Allocated Share-Based Compensation Expense Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract] Schedule of Stock by Class [Table] Award Type [Axis] Award Type [Axis] Subsequent Event Type [Axis] Subsequent Event Type [Axis] Subsequent Event Type [Domain] Subsequent Event Type [Domain] Class of Stock [Line Items] Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Employee Benefit Plan Related Party Transactions [Abstract] Schedule of Related Party Transactions, by Related Party [Table] Long-Term Debt, Type [Axis] Long-term Debt, Type [Axis] Long-Term Debt, Type [Domain] Long-term Debt, Type [Domain] Convertible Subordinated Debt [Member] Related Party [Axis] Related Party [Domain] Clarex [Member] Affiliate Of Clarex [Member] Convertible Subordinated Debt Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Debt Instrument, Maturity Date Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Debt Instrument, Convertible, Number of Equity Instruments Warrants To Purchase Common Stock Number Of Shares Per Warrant The number of common stock shares issuable for each warrant. Investment Warrants, Exercise Price Investment Warrants Expiration Date Debt Instrument, Periodic Payment, Interest Debt Instrument, Frequency Of Periodic Payment Debt Instrument, Frequency of Periodic Payment Debt Instrument, Convertible, Terms of Conversion Feature Schedule of Long-term Debt Instruments [Table] Term Note Payable [Member] Us Small Business Administration Note Payable [Member] U.S. Small Business Administration Note Payable [Member] Debt Instrument [Line Items] Other Notes Payable Note Payable Other Notes Payable, Current Less current portion Debt Instrument, Face Amount Debt Instrument, Face Amount Debt Instrument, Issuance Date Debt Instrument, Issuance Date Debt Instrument, Periodic Payment Debt Instrument, Periodic Payment Balance Sheets Parenthetical [Abstract] Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable Allowance for doubtful accounts (in dollars) Common Stock, Par Or Stated Value Per Share Common stock, par value (in dollars per share) Common Stock, Shares Authorized Common stock, shares authorized Common Stock, Shares, Issued Common stock, shares issued Treasury Stock, Shares Treasury stock, shares Schedule of Restructuring and Related Costs [Table] Restructuring Type [Axis] Type of Restructuring [Domain] Property, Plant and Equipment, Type [Axis] Property, Plant and Equipment, Type [Domain] Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items] Restructuring Charges Provisions Income Statement [Abstract] Revenue, Net Total revenue Costs and Expenses [Abstract] Cost and expenses: Cost Of Goods Sold Cost of goods sold Restructuring Costs, Total Restructuring costs Selling, General and Administrative Expense Selling, general and administrative expenses Costs and Expenses Costs and Expenses, Total Operating Income (Loss) Income (loss) from operations Nonoperating Income (Expense) [Abstract] Other expense: Interest Income (Expense), Nonoperating, Net Interest expense—net Gain (Loss) On Sale Of Property Plant Equipment Gain on sale of plant and equipment Gain on sale of plant and equipment Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Other Assets Gain on sale of precious metals Gain on sale of precious metals Nonoperating Income (Expense) Nonoperating Income (Expense) Income (Loss) From Continuing Operations Before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Cumulative Effects Of Changes In Accounting Principles, Noncontrolling Interest Net income (loss) before income taxes Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Income tax (provision) benefit Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted, Total Net income (loss) per common share—basic and diluted (in dollar per share) Statement Of Cash Flows [Abstract] Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Continuing Operations [Abstract] Cash flows from operating activities: Net Income (Loss) Attributable To Parent Net (loss) Net Income (loss) Adjustments To Reconcile Net Income (Loss) To Cash Provided By (Used In) Operating Activities [Abstract] Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities: Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization Depreciation and amortization Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Expense 401K common stock contribution Share-Based Compensation Stock based compensation Increase (Decrease) In Accounts Receivable Accounts receivable Increase (Decrease) In Inventories Inventories, net Increase (Decrease) In Prepaid, Deferred Expense and Other Assets Other current assets Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities, Total Accounts payable and accrued liabilities Increase (Decrease) In Customer Advances Customer advances Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities, Continuing Operations, Total Net cash (used in) operating activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities, Continuing Operations [Abstract] Cash flows from investing activities: Payments To Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment Capital expenditures Noncash Investing and Financing Activities, Exchange of precious metals Exchange of precious metals Exchange of precious metals in a noncash (or part noncash) transaction. Noncash is defined as transactions during a period that do not result in cash receipts or cash payments in the period. "Part noncash" refers to that portion of a transaction not resulting in cash receipts or cash payments in the period. Proceeds From Sale Of Property, Plant, and Equipment Proceeds from sale of plant and equipment Proceeds from Sale of Other Productive Assets Proceeds from sale of precious metals Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities, Continuing Operations [Abstract] Cash flows from financing activities: Repayments Of Other Long-Term Debt Principal payments on notes payable-other Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities, Continuing Operations, Total Net cash (used in) financing activities Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract] Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information: Interest Paid Interest paid Income Taxes Paid, Net Income taxes paid Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block] Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block] Disclosure Of Compensation Related Costs, Share-Based Payments [Text Block] Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block] Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block] Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block] Related Party Transactions Disclosure [Text Block] Inrad Optics K Plan [Member] Inrad Optics 401k plan [Member] Increase (Decrease) In Operating Capital [Abstract] Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Noncash Investing and Financing Items [Abstract] Non-Cash Financing Activities: Share-Based Compensation Arrangement By Share-Based Payment Award, Options, Exercisable, Intrinsic Value Aggregate Intrinsic Value, Options Exercisable at September 30, 2015 (in dollars) Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic Weighted average shares outstanding - basic (in shares) Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted (in shares) Incremental Common Shares Attributable to Dilutive Effect of Share-based Payment Arrangements Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities, Continuing Operations, Total Net cash (used in) investing activities Related Party Transaction [Line Items] Document Information [Line Items] Adjustments To Reconcile Net Income (Loss) To Cash Provided By (Used In) Operating Activities Total adjustments and changes