Note 3 - Going Concern (Details Textual) $ in Thousands	5 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)
Working Capital (Deficit)	$ (14,002)	$ (14,002)
Commitments for Operating Leases	6,282	6,282
Commitments for Vessel Aquisitions	11,975	11,975
Kalani Investments Limited [Member]
Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock	29,306	10,739
Family Trading Inc [Member]
Line of Credit Facility, Remaining Borrowing Capacity	$ 12,042	12,042
AT Bank [Member] \| Funding for Commitments for Vessel Acquisitions [Member]
Proceeds from Lines of Credit		$ 8,993

The commitments remaining for operating leases.

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	tops_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Future Commitments to cover new building vessel remaining installments to the shipyard.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	tops_CommitmentsForVesselAquisitions
Namespace Prefix:	tops_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents working capital (deficit) as of date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	tops_WorkingCapitalDeficit
Namespace Prefix:	tops_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of borrowing capacity currently available under the credit facility (current borrowing capacity less the amount of borrowings outstanding).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The cash inflow from the additional capital contribution to the entity.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of cash inflow from contractual arrangement with the lender, including but not limited to, letter of credit, standby letter of credit and revolving credit arrangements.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 14
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3255-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(f))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis=tops_KalaniInvestmentsLimitedMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis=tops_FamilyTradingIncMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis=tops_ATBankMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis=tops_FundingForCommitmentsForVesselAcquisitionsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: