Document And Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	May 10, 2019
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2019
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Registrant Name	ELECTRO SENSORS INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000351789
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Small Business	true
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		3,395,521
Trading Symbol	ELSE
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false