Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Common Stock [Member]	Total
Common stock, number of shares, beginning of year (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014		8,958,028
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period		4,000
Stock repurchased during year in tender offer (in shares)		(230,729)
Common stock, number of shares, end of year (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015		8,731,299
Common stock, amount, beginning of year at Dec. 31, 2014		$ 90
Stock repurchased during year in tender offer	$ (3)
Common stock, amount, end of year at Dec. 31, 2015		87
Additional paid-in capital, beginning of year at Dec. 31, 2014		21,537
Dividends paid
Stock repurchased during year in tender offer		(689)
Stock option exercised		8
Stock compensation expense		19
Additional paid-in capital, end of year at Dec. 31, 2015		20,875
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, beginning of year at Dec. 31, 2014		(110)
Foreign currency translation adjustment		(6)
Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale marketable securities		(68)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, end of year at Dec. 31, 2015		(184)
Accumulated earnings (deficit), beginning of year at Dec. 31, 2014		(12,750)
Net income (loss)		18,020
Accumulated earnings (deficit), end of year at Dec. 31, 2015		5,270
Noncontrolling interest, beginning of year at Dec. 31, 2014		(2,189)
Net loss		(690)
Noncontrolling interest, end of year at Dec. 31, 2015		(2,879)
Total Intelligent Systems Corporation stockholders’ equity		26,048
Total stockholders’ equity		$ 23,169
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period		12,000
Stock repurchased during year in tender offer (in shares)
Common stock, number of shares, end of year (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016		8,743,299
Stock repurchased during year in tender offer
Common stock, amount, end of year at Dec. 31, 2016		$ 87
Dividends paid		(3,056)
Stock repurchased during year in tender offer
Stock option exercised		14
Stock compensation expense		31
Additional paid-in capital, end of year at Dec. 31, 2016		17,864
Foreign currency translation adjustment		(1)
Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale marketable securities		22
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, end of year at Dec. 31, 2016		(163)
Net income (loss)		(1,112)
Accumulated earnings (deficit), end of year at Dec. 31, 2016		4,158
Net loss		(137)
Noncontrolling interest, end of year at Dec. 31, 2016		(3,016)
Total Intelligent Systems Corporation stockholders’ equity		21,946
Total stockholders’ equity		$ 18,930