CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
Revenue
Revenue	$ 47,440	$ 45,531	$ 135,029	$ 112,745
Costs and expenses
Total costs and expenses	30,878	29,218	88,652	77,441
Selling, general and administrative expenses	12,049	10,637	36,395	31,432
Operating income	4,513	5,676	9,982	3,872
Other income (expense)
Other income	2	2	14	195
Interest expense	(2,013)	(1,970)	(6,026)	(5,470)
Income (loss) before income taxes	2,502	3,708	3,970	(1,403)
(Provision for) benefit from income taxes (Note 7)	(8)	10	136	187
Net income (loss)	2,494	3,718	4,106	(1,216)
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interest (Note 2)	(2,694)	(1,485)	(6,284)	(1,705)
Net (loss) income attributable to Telos Corporation	$ (200)	$ 2,233	$ (2,178)	$ (2,921)
Common A [Member]
Other income (expense)
Net (loss) earnings per share attributable to Telos Corporation, basic	$ (0.01)	$ 0.06	$ (0.06)	$ (0.08)
Net (loss) earnings per share attributable to Telos Corporation, diluted	$ (0.01)	$ 0.06	$ (0.06)	$ (0.08)
Weighted-average shares of stock outstanding, basic (in shares)	35,798	34,869	35,350	34,410
Weighted-average shares of stock outstanding, diluted (in shares)	35,798	36,727	35,350	34,410
Common B [Member]
Other income (expense)
Net (loss) earnings per share attributable to Telos Corporation, basic	$ (0.01)	$ 0.06	$ (0.06)	$ (0.08)
Net (loss) earnings per share attributable to Telos Corporation, diluted	$ (0.01)	$ 0.06	$ (0.06)	$ (0.08)
Weighted-average shares of stock outstanding, basic (in shares)	3,204	3,204	3,204	3,204
Weighted-average shares of stock outstanding, diluted (in shares)	3,204	3,204	3,204	3,204
Service [Member]
Revenue
Revenue	$ 44,166	$ 39,221	$ 124,210	$ 101,635
Costs and expenses
Total costs and expenses	28,619	26,594	82,862	71,988
Product [Member]
Revenue
Revenue	3,274	6,310	10,819	11,110
Costs and expenses
Total costs and expenses	$ 2,259	$ 2,624	$ 5,790	$ 5,453