Document And Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Mar. 01, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	OTELCO INC.
Entity Central Index Key	0001288359
Trading Symbol	otel
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Small Business	true
Entity Public Float			$ 35.8
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2018
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2018
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Common Class B [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		0
Common Class A [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		3,388,624