Consolidated Statements Of Income And Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Sales
From unrelated parties	$ 6,990,000	$ 14,920,000
From related parties	59,000	15,000
	7,049,000	14,935,000
Cost of sales	4,467,000	12,538,000
Gross margin	2,582,000	2,397,000
Operating expenses
Selling expenses	788,000	689,000
General and administrative expenses	1,402,000	1,243,000
Research and development expenses	449,000	331,000
	2,639,000	2,263,000
Loss/(income) from operations	(57,000)	134,000
Other income (expenses)
Interest income	32,000	5,000
Other expenses	(1,000)	(1,000)
	31,000	4,000
Loss/(income) before income tax expense, equity method investments and noncontrolling interests	(26,000)	138,000
Income tax benefit/(expense)	86,000	(236,000)
Income/(loss) before equity method investments and noncontrolling interests	60,000	(98,000)
Share of losses in equity investment affiliates	(71,000)	(193,000)
Net (loss)/income	(11,000)	(291,000)
Net loss/(income) attributable to noncontrolling interests	41,000	(75,000)
Foreign currency translation gain	215,000	263,000
Comprehensive income/(loss)	204,000	(28,000)
Comprehensive loss/(income) attributable to noncontrolling interests	38,000	(112,000)
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc.	242,000	(140,000)
Earnings/(loss) per common share
Basic (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.00	$ (0.02)
Diluted (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.00	$ (0.02)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic (in Shares)	22,186,540	22,182,584
Diluted (in Shares)	22,186,540	22,182,584
Net income/(loss) attributable to ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc.	$ 30,000	$ (366,000)