Summary of Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Sep. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2012		Mar. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Sep. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2011		Mar. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Summary of Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 55,323,000		$ 49,279,000		$ 55,214,000		$ 47,578,000		$ 48,413,000		$ 66,916,000		$ 56,338,000		$ 54,429,000		$ 207,394,000	$ 226,096,000	$ 189,888,000
Gross profit	12,899,000		8,799,000		8,884,000		8,018,000		11,246,000		14,903,000		14,603,000		14,054,000
Income before income taxes and non-controlling interest	3,727,000		(291,000)		(502,000)		(2,067,000)		6,219,000		2,404,000		4,378,000		3,724,000		867,000	16,725,000	6,741,000
Net income (loss) attributable to Telos Corporation	(5,778,000)	[1],[2]	3,706,000	[1],[2]	454,000	[1],[2]	(1,000,000)	[1],[2]	3,116,000	[1],[3]	543,000	[1],[3]	1,973,000	[1],[3]	1,803,000	[1],[3]	(2,618,000)	7,435,000	1,454,000
Adjustment to income tax expense									$ 9,100,000

[1] Changes in net income are the result of several factors, including seasonality of the government year-end buying season, as well as the nature and timing of other deliverables.

[2] ASC 740-270 requires the use of an annualized effective tax rate approach in estimating taxes for interim periods. Changes in projected profits and losses can affect the effective tax rate from one period to another. The Company realized significant pre-tax profits during the fourth quarter which produced a tax provision of $9.1 million for the fourth quarter. Through the nine months ended September 30, 2013, the Company properly recorded a benefit for income taxes in accordance with applying the annualized effective tax rate approach to its nine months’ pre-tax loss.

[3] Reflects gain on early extinguishment of ITL Note in December 2012.