Discontinued Operations (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013
Grid Division related restructuring payments	$ 83,000
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Revenue	5,467,000	[1]	7,837,000	[1]	18,392,000	[1]	34,693,000	[1]
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Costs of Goods Sold	3,433,000		3,764,000		11,774,000		20,760,000
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Operating Expense	3,921,000
Discontinued Operation, Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operation, before Income Tax	(1,887,000)		(269,000)		(8,996,000)		(975,000)
Discontinued Operation, Tax Effect of Discontinued Operation	0		0		0		0
Loss on disposal of Grid business	(254,000)				(254,000)		0
Net loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	(2,141,000)		(269,000)		(9,250,000)		(975,000)
Net loss from discontinued operations attributable to non-controlling interest, net of income taxes	(179,000)		(266,000)		(535,000)		(590,000)
Net loss from discontinued operations attributable to Echelon Corporation Stockholders, net of income taxes	(1,962,000)		(3,000)		(8,715,000)		(385,000)
Revenues from related parties, discontinued operations	0		2,024,000		112,000		4,400,000
Proceeds from divestiture of Grid business			0		4,861,000		0
Contingent consideration discontinued operations	1,000,000				1,000,000
Revenue targets to earn contingent consideration	50,000,000				50,000,000
Grid Division related restructuring charges	1,400,000
Fair value of contingent consideration receivable	0				0
Restructuring charges	$ 227,000		$ 0		$ 227,000

[1] (1) Includes related party amounts of zero and $2.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively; and related party amounts of $112,000 and $4.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.