Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive (Loss) Income (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 29, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 29, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 15,199	$ 17,279	$ 30,484	$ 38,298
Cost of products sold	10,987	12,757	21,937	27,397
Gross profit	4,212	4,522	8,547	10,901
Operating expenses:
Research and development	1,560	1,669	2,996	3,038
Selling, general and administrative	3,976	4,727	7,971	9,362
Total operating expenses	5,536	6,396	10,967	12,400
Operating (loss) income	(1,324)	(1,874)	(2,420)	(1,499)
Other (expense) income:
Interest income	0	12	9	14
Interest and financing expense	(41)	(43)	(97)	(133)
Miscellaneous	46	2	30	(23)
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes	(1,319)	(1,903)	(2,478)	(1,641)
Income tax provision	57	53	117	151
Net loss from continuing operations	(1,376)	(1,956)	(2,595)	(1,792)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	(120)	(61)	144
Net loss	(1,376)	(2,076)	(2,656)	(1,648)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	16	3	10	9
Net loss attributable to Ultralife	(1,360)	(2,073)	(2,646)	(1,639)
Other comprehensive income:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	69	148	135	21
Comprehensive loss attributable to Ultralife	$ (1,291)	$ (1,925)	$ (2,511)	$ (1,618)
Net loss per share attributable to Ultralife common shareholders - Basic:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.08)	$ (0.11)	$ (0.15)	$ (0.1)
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0	$ (0.01)	$ 0	$ 0.01
Total (in dollars per share)	$ (0.08)	$ (0.12)	$ (0.15)	$ (0.09)
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic	17,533	17,459	17,523	17,458