Commitments and Contingencies - Narrative (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands			1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) $ / shares	Jul. 23, 2015 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2016 USD ($) shares	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) facility shares	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) shares
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Operating leases, number of facilities | facility				2
Operating lease payments				$ 287	$ 342
Stock issued during period, value					$ (82)
General and administrative
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Stock-based expense				204
Common Stock
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Stock issued during period (in shares) | shares					17,000
UTC Associates Inc. vs Glowpoint Inc.
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Payments for legal settlements	$ 325			325
UTC Associates Inc.
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Stock issued during period, value				$ 204
Share price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 0.34
UTC Associates Inc. | Common Stock
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Stock issued during period (in shares) | shares			600,000	600,000
Stock issued during period, value			$ 204
Monetary Damages, Unpaid Services | UTC Associates Inc.
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Loss contingency, damages sought, value		$ 2,107
Monetary Damages, Breach of Alleged Guaranteed Minimum Provision | UTC Associates Inc.
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Loss contingency, damages sought, value		1,107
Monetary Damages, Breach of Alleged Exclusivity Provision | UTC Associates Inc.
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Loss contingency, damages sought, value		$ 1,000
Colorado | Wells Fargo Bank
Long-term Purchase Commitment [Line Items]
Letters of credit outstanding, amount				$ 18