Document and Entity Information - shares	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Aug. 03, 2016
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	KVH INDUSTRIES INC \DE\
Entity Central Index Key	0001007587
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2016
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--06-30
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		16,509,302