Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Mar. 08, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	KVH INDUSTRIES INC \DE\
Entity Central Index Key	0001007587
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2016
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		16,902,494
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Public Float			$ 115,050,774