Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015		Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 9,363,000	[1]	$ 8,981,000	[1]	$ 19,231,000	$ 19,905,000
Cost of revenues	3,821,000	[2]	3,784,000	[2]	8,065,000	8,322,000
Gross profit	5,542,000		5,197,000		11,166,000	11,583,000
Operating expenses:
Product development	2,340,000	[3]	2,170,000	[3]	4,952,000	4,919,000
Sales and marketing	2,194,000	[3]	2,265,000	[3]	4,382,000	4,440,000
General and administrative	2,187,000	[3]	3,579,000	[3]	5,008,000	7,349,000
Lease termination charges	3,337,000		0		3,337,000	0
Total operating expenses	10,058,000		8,014,000		17,679,000	16,708,000
Loss from continuing operations	(4,516,000)		(2,817,000)		(6,513,000)	(5,125,000)
Interest and other income, net	(458,000)		(69,000)		380,000	(58,000)
Interest expense on lease financing obligations	(128,000)		(280,000)		(380,000)	(568,000)
Loss from continuing operations before provision for income taxes	(5,102,000)		(3,166,000)		(6,513,000)	(5,751,000)
Income tax expense	61,000		106,000		74,000	81,000
Net loss from continuing operations attributable to Echelon Corporation Stockholders	(5,163,000)		(3,272,000)		(6,587,000)	(5,832,000)
Net loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	0		(5,579,000)		0	(7,109,000)
Net loss from discontinued operations attributable to non-controlling interest, net of income taxes	0		239,000		0	356,000
Net loss from discontinued operations attributable to Echelon Corporation Stockholders, net of income taxes	0		(5,340,000)		0	(6,753,000)
Net loss attributable to Echelon Corporation Stockholders	$ (5,163,000)		$ (8,612,000)		$ (6,587,000)	$ (12,585,000)
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Basic and diluted net loss per share from continuing operations attributable to Echelon Corporation Stockholders (usd per shares)	$ (0.12)		$ (0.08)		$ (0.15)	$ (0.13)
Basic and diluted net loss per share from discontinued operations attributable to Echelon Corporation Stockholders (usd per shares)	0.00		(0.12)		0.00	(0.16)
Basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to Echelon Corporation Stockholders (usd per shares)	$ (0.12)		$ (0.20)		$ (0.15)	$ (0.29)
Shares used in computing net loss per share:
Basic (shares)	44,062		43,325		44,037	43,295
Diluted (shares)	44,062		43,325		44,037	43,295

[1] Represents the portfolio of available for sale securities that is included in restricted investments and short-term investments in the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets

[2] Included in cash and cash equivalents in the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets

[3] See Note 6 for summary of amounts included representing stock-based compensation expense.