Acquisitions (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jan. 26, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Impairment losses				$ 0	$ 4,140,000	$ 0
Restricted Stock [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Percentage of awards vesting	33.33%
Minimum [Member] | Restricted Stock [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Award vesting period	1 year
Maximum [Member] | Restricted Stock [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Award vesting period	2 years
Cloverleaf Communications, Inc. [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Voting eaquity interests acquired	100.00%
Cash consideration	703,000
Equity interest issued, number of shares	4,758,530
Dot Hill common stock value issued to Cloverleaf	8,132,000
Common stock, share price	$ 1.71
Assumed liabilities	1,800,000
Accrued Cloverleaf transaction costs	800,000
Transaction costs, period expense		300,000	500,000
Consideration transferred	8,835,000
Impairment losses					4,100,000
Revenue included in discontinued operations				400,000	1,600,000	700,000
Net income (loss) related to discontinued operations				(4,500,000)	(13,600,000)	(6,000,000)
Cloverleaf Communications, Inc. [Member] | Restricted Stock [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Equity interest issued, number of shares	327,977
Cloverleaf Communications, Inc. [Member] | Acquired software [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Impairment of intangible assets					$ 6,400,000