Document and Entity Information - shares	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Aug. 07, 2017
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	Rubicon Technology, Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	0001410172
Trading Symbol	RBCN
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2017
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2017
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		2,724,316