Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive (Loss) Income (Unaudited) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 27, 2015	Sep. 28, 2014	Sep. 27, 2015	Sep. 28, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 19,044,000	$ 16,062,000	$ 57,176,000	$ 46,546,000
Cost of products sold	13,144,000	11,576,000	39,410,000	33,513,000
Gross profit	5,900,000	4,486,000	17,766,000	13,033,000
Operating expenses:
Research and development	1,224,000	1,014,000	3,917,000	4,010,000
Selling, general and administrative	3,503,000	3,527,000	11,037,000	11,498,000
Total operating expenses	4,727,000	4,541,000	14,954,000	15,508,000
Operating income (loss)	1,173,000	(55,000)	2,812,000	(2,475,000)
Other (expense) income:
Interest income	0	3,000	2,000	12,000
Interest and financing expense	(65,000)	(56,000)	(197,000)	(153,000)
Miscellaneous	70,000	(158,000)	39,000	(128,000)
Income (Loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	1,178,000	(266,000)	2,656,000	(2,744,000)
Income tax provision	130,000	60,000	312,000	177,000
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	1,048,000	(326,000)	2,344,000	(2,921,000)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	0	0	(61,000)
Net Income (loss)	1,048,000	(326,000)	2,344,000	(2,982,000)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(1,000)	3,000	23,000	13,000
Net Income (loss) attributable to Ultralife	1,047,000	(323,000)	2,367,000	(2,969,000)
Other comprehensive income:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(349,000)	29,000	(283,000)	164,000
Comprehensive loss attributable to Ultralife	$ 698,000	$ (294,000)	$ 2,084,000	$ (2,805,000)
Net income (loss) per share attributable to Ultralife common shareholders - Basic:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ .07	$ (.02)	$ .14	$ (.17)
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0	0	0	0
Total (in dollars per share)	.07	$ (.02)	0.14	$ (0.17)
Net income per share attributable to Ultralife common shareholders - Diluted:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	0.07		0.14
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0		0
Total (in dollars per share)	$ 0.07		$ 0.14
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic	15,633,000	17,490,000	16,503,000	17,510,000
Potential common shares	107,000		47,000
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted	15,740,000		16,550,000