Nature of Operations	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Nature of Operations [Text Block]	1. Nature of Operations *Description of Business* Mechanical Technology, Incorporated, (MTI or the Company), a New York corporation, was incorporated in 1961. MTI operates in two segments, the Test and Measurement Instrumentation segment, which is conducted through MTI Instruments, Inc. (MTI Instruments), a wholly-owned subsidiary, and the New Energy segment which is conducted through MTI MicroFuel Cells Inc. (MTI Micro), a variable interest entity (VIE) that is included in these consolidated financial statements and described further below in Note 2. MTI Instruments was incorporated in New York on March 8, 2000 and is a worldwide supplier of precision non-contact physical measurement solutions, portable balance equipment and wafer inspection tools. MTI Instrument’s products use a comprehensive array of technologies to solve complex, real world applications in numerous industries including manufacturing, semiconductor, solar, commercial and military aviation, automotive and data storage. MTI Instrument’s products consist of electronic gauging instruments for position, displacement and vibration application within the design, manufacturing/production, test and research market; wafer characterization of semi-insulating and semi-conducting wafers within both the semiconductor and solar industries; tensile stage systems for materials testing at academic and industrial settings; and engine vibration analysis systems for both military and commercial aircraft. MTI Micro was incorporated in Delaware on March 26, 2001, and is developing Mobion^®, a handheld energy-generating device to replace current lithium-ion and similar rechargeable battery systems in many handheld electronic devices for the military and consumer markets. Mobion^® handheld generators are based on direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) technology, which has been recognized as enabling technology for advanced portable power sources by the scientific community and industry analysts. As the need for advancements in portable power increases, MTI Micro is developing Mobion^®as a solution for advancing current and future electronic device power needs of the portable electronics market. As of December 31, 2011, the Company owned approximately 47.6% of MTI Micro’s outstanding common stock. *Liquidity* The Company has historically incurred significant losses, the majority stemming from the direct methanol fuel cell product development and commercialization programs of MTI Micro, and had a consolidated accumulated deficit of $120.1 million as of December 31, 2011. During 2011, the Company generated net income attributed to MTI of $2.4 million and had working capital at December 31, 2011 of $3.1 million, a $1.6 million increase from $1.5 million at December 31, 2010. This increase was primarily attributed to the reversal of a portion of the deferred tax asset’s valuation reserve of $1.5 million, representing the portion of the Company’s deferred tax asset that management has estimated is more likely than not to be realized, the improved result of operations for MTI Instruments, a continued hold on expenses, and capital raised through the issuance of MTI Micro stock. The Company had an operating cash surplus of $67 thousand in 2011 and currently has no debt. While it cannot be assured, management believes that MTI Instruments will continue to generate positive cash flows and be able to fund the Company’s operations for at least the next twelve months. Although MTI Micro continues to believe in the potential of its Mobion^® based power solutions, it has suspended its MTI Micro operations until such time as market demand and other deciding factors, including obtaining additional external financing, the successful completion of customer trials, a new development program with a government agency, and/or a customer order, come to fruition. MTI Micro had cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2011 of $110 thousand. Currently, MTI Micro has no employees and projects to spend between $5 and $10 thousand per month for operating activities including rent, preparing prototypes for customer demonstrations, minimal sales efforts, patent fees to keep the patent portfolio current and minimal consultant costs to perform these initiatives. If MTI Micro is unable to secure additional financing, a new development program or customer order, the MTI Micro board of directors will assess other options for MTI Micro, including the sale of MTI Micro’s intellectual property portfolio and other assets. As of December 31, 2011, we had approximately $1.7 million of cash and cash equivalents to fund our future operations. During the year ended December 31, 2011, our results of operations resulted in net income after the non-controlling interest allocation of $2.4 million and cash provided by operating activities totaling $67 thousand. We expect to spend approximately $1.4 million in research and development on MTI Instruments’ products during 2012. We expect to continue funding our operations from current cash and cash equivalents, proceeds, if any, from additional debt or equity financings and government funding. We may also seek to supplement our resources through the sales of assets (including our investment in MTI Micro). Besides the line of credit at MTI Instruments, we have no other commitments for funding future needs of the organization at this time and such additional financing during 2012 may not be available to us on acceptable terms, if at all.

Nature of Operations

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]

1. Nature of Operations

Description of Business

Mechanical Technology, Incorporated, (MTI or the Company), a New York corporation, was incorporated in 1961. MTI operates in two segments, the Test and Measurement Instrumentation segment, which is conducted through MTI Instruments, Inc. (MTI Instruments), a wholly-owned subsidiary, and the New Energy segment which is conducted through MTI MicroFuel Cells Inc. (MTI Micro), a variable interest entity (VIE) that is included in these consolidated financial statements and described further below in Note 2.

MTI Instruments was incorporated in New York on March 8, 2000 and is a worldwide supplier of precision non-contact physical measurement solutions, portable balance equipment and wafer inspection tools. MTI Instrument’s products use a comprehensive array of technologies to solve complex, real world applications in numerous industries including manufacturing, semiconductor, solar, commercial and military aviation, automotive and data storage. MTI Instrument’s products consist of electronic gauging instruments for position, displacement and vibration application within the design, manufacturing/production, test and research market; wafer characterization of semi-insulating and semi-conducting wafers within both the semiconductor and solar industries; tensile stage systems for materials testing at academic and industrial settings; and engine vibration analysis systems for both military and commercial aircraft.

MTI Micro was incorporated in Delaware on March 26, 2001, and is developing Mobion^®, a handheld energy-generating device to replace current lithium-ion and similar rechargeable battery systems in many handheld electronic devices for the military and consumer markets. Mobion^® handheld generators are based on direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) technology, which has been recognized as enabling technology for advanced portable power sources by the scientific community and industry analysts. As the need for advancements in portable power increases, MTI Micro is developing Mobion^®as a solution for advancing current and future electronic device power needs of the portable electronics market. As of December 31, 2011, the Company owned approximately 47.6% of MTI Micro’s outstanding common stock.

Liquidity

The Company has historically incurred significant losses, the majority stemming from the direct methanol fuel cell product development and commercialization programs of MTI Micro, and had a consolidated accumulated deficit of $120.1 million as of December 31, 2011. During 2011, the Company generated net income attributed to MTI of $2.4 million and had working capital at December 31, 2011 of $3.1 million, a $1.6 million increase from $1.5 million at December 31, 2010. This increase was primarily attributed to the reversal of a portion of the deferred tax asset’s valuation reserve of $1.5 million, representing the portion of the Company’s deferred tax asset that management has estimated is more likely than not to be realized, the improved result of operations for MTI Instruments, a continued hold on expenses, and capital raised through the issuance of MTI Micro stock. The Company had an operating cash surplus of $67 thousand in 2011 and currently has no debt. While it cannot be assured, management believes that MTI Instruments will continue to generate positive cash flows and be able to fund the Company’s operations for at least the next twelve months.

Although MTI Micro continues to believe in the potential of its Mobion^® based power solutions, it has suspended its MTI Micro operations until such time as market demand and other deciding factors, including obtaining additional external financing, the successful completion of customer trials, a new development program with a government agency, and/or a customer order, come to fruition. MTI Micro had cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2011 of $110 thousand. Currently, MTI Micro has no employees and projects to spend between $5 and $10 thousand per month for operating activities including rent, preparing prototypes for customer demonstrations, minimal sales efforts, patent fees to keep the patent portfolio current and minimal consultant costs to perform these initiatives. If MTI Micro is unable to secure additional financing, a new development program or customer order, the MTI Micro board of directors will assess other options for MTI Micro, including the sale of MTI Micro’s intellectual property portfolio and other assets.

As of December 31, 2011, we had approximately $1.7 million of cash and cash equivalents to fund our future operations. During the year ended December 31, 2011, our results of operations resulted in net income after the non-controlling interest allocation of $2.4 million and cash provided by operating activities totaling $67 thousand. We expect to spend approximately $1.4 million in research and development on MTI Instruments’ products during 2012. We expect to continue funding our operations from current cash and cash equivalents, proceeds, if any, from additional debt or equity financings and government funding. We may also seek to supplement our resources through the sales of assets (including our investment in MTI Micro). Besides the line of credit at MTI Instruments, we have no other commitments for funding future needs of the organization at this time and such additional financing during 2012 may not be available to us on acceptable terms, if at all.