The amount of short term borrowings that were settled during the period.

No definition available.

Name:	tops_ShorttermBorrowingsAmountSettled
Namespace Prefix:	tops_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Decrease for amounts of indebtedness forgiven by the holder of the debt instrument.

+ References

Reference 1: 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

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

- Definition

Amount of the fee that accompanies borrowing money under the debt instrument.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFeeAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Date when the debt instrument is scheduled to be fully repaid, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentMaturityDate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of the cost of borrowed funds accounted for as interest expense for debt.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.8)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688

+ Details

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

- Definition

The cash inflow from a borrowing having initial term of repayment within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ 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

+ Details

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

- Definition

Reflects the total carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of debt having initial terms less than one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ 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)(a))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(13))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(16)(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=tops_NotesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

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

- Details

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

Note 7 - Debt - Draws (Payments) On Line of Credit (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands							5 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 26, 2017	May 15, 2017	Apr. 05, 2017	Mar. 28, 2017	Mar. 22, 2017	Feb. 06, 2017	Jun. 26, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Outstanding amount								$ 3,776
Amount drawn								34,200
Notes [Member]
Fees	$ 410						$ 410
Interest							125
Amounts settled							(29,306)
Amounts forgiven							(1,118)
Outstanding amount	3,776						3,776	$ 3,776
Amount drawn							34,200
Notes [Member] \| Kalani Investments Limited [Member]
Fees					$ 200	$ 210
Interest	2		42	24	7	22
Amounts settled			(7,700)	(10,000)	(5,000)	(3,500)
Amounts forgiven
Outstanding amount	$ 3,000						$ 3,000
Maturity	Oct. 24, 2017		Sep. 04, 2017	Aug. 25, 2017	Oct. 07, 2017	May 15, 2017
Amount drawn	$ 3,000		$ 7,700	$ 10,000	$ 5,000	$ 3,500
Notes [Member] \| Xanthe Holdings Limited [Member]
Fees
Interest		28
Amounts settled		(3,106)
Amounts forgiven		(1,118)
Outstanding amount		$ 776
Maturity		Aug. 23, 2017
Amount drawn		$ 5,000