Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2015		Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2015		Sep. 30, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues		$ 9,983	[1]	$ 9,178	[1]	$ 29,214	[2]	$ 29,083	[2]
Cost of revenues		4,370	[3]	4,180	[3]	12,435	[4]	12,502	[4]
Gross profit		5,613		4,998		16,779		16,581
Operating expenses:
Product development	[4]	2,454		2,305		7,406		7,224
Sales and marketing	[4]	1,848		2,160		6,230		6,600
General and administrative	[4]	2,547		3,538		7,555		10,887
Lease termination charges		0		0		3,337		0
Loss on write down of property, equipment and other				4,409		0		4,409
Costs Incurred		0		227		0		227
Total operating expenses		6,849		12,639		24,528		29,347
Loss from continuing operations		(1,236)		(7,641)		(7,749)		(12,766)
Interest and other income, net		184		719		564		661
Interest expense on lease financing obligations		(5)		(271)		(385)		(839)
Loss from continuing operations before provision for income taxes		(1,057)		(7,193)		(7,570)		(12,944)
Income tax expense (benefit)		(10)		33		64		114
Net loss from continuing operations attributable to Echelon Corporation Stockholders		(1,047)		(7,226)		(7,634)		(13,058)
Net loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes		0		(2,141)		0		(9,250)
Net loss from discontinued operations attributable to non-controlling interest, net of income taxes		0		179		0		535
Net loss from discontinued operations attributable to Echelon Corporation Stockholders, net of income taxes		0		(1,962)		0		(8,715)
Net loss attributable to Echelon Corporation Stockholders		$ (1,047)		$ (9,188)		$ (7,634)		$ (21,773)
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Basic and diluted net loss per share from continuing operations attributable to Echelon Corporation Stockholders (usd per shares)		$ (0.02)		$ (0.17)		$ (0.17)		$ (0.30)
Basic and diluted net loss per share from discontinued operations attributable to Echelon Corporation Stockholders (usd per shares)		0.00		(0.05)		0.00		(0.20)
Basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to Echelon Corporation Stockholders (usd per shares)		$ (0.02)		$ (0.21)		$ (0.17)		$ (0.50)
Shares used in computing net loss per share:
Basic (shares)		44,128		43,507		44,068		43,367
Diluted (shares)		44,128		43,507		44,068		43,367

[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] Includes related party amounts of $1,680 and $683 for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively; and related party amounts of $3,465 and $2,546 for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. See Note 7 and Note 14 for additional information on related par

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

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