Annual Increase In Repayments of Long-Term Debt, Principal And Interest

No definition available.

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- Definition

Consolidated Leverage Ratio

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Debt Instrument, Baloon Payment Due at Maturity

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Debt Instrument, Maturity Term

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Debt Instrument, Principal Amortization Term

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Debt Instrument, Restrictive Covenant, Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, Amount

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Debt Instrument, Security Interest Pledged, Percentage

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line of Credit Facility, Covenant Compliance, Maximum Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line of Credit Facility, Covenant Compliance, Maximum Consolidated Leverage Ratio

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line of Credit Facility, Mandatory Prepayment Provision, Net Cash Proceeds from Dispositions Not Reinvested, Percentage

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line of Credit Facility, Mandatory Prepayment Provision, Net Cash Proceeds from Receipts Greater than 250 Thousand Dollars, Non-ordinary Business, Percentage

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	kvhi_LineofCreditFacilityMandatoryPrepaymentProvisionNetCashProceedsfromReceiptsGreaterthan250ThousandDollarsNonordinaryBusinessPercentage
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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line of Credit Facility, Mandatory Prepayment Provision, Net Cash Proceeds from Stated Equity Issuance, Percentage

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Monthly Repayments of Long-Term Debt, Principal And Interest

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	kvhi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of Financial Covenants

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of Satellite Hubs Pledged As Collateral on Debt

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	kvhi_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Repayments of Long-term loan

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	kvhi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 55
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930739&loc=d3e28878-108400

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930785&loc=d3e28551-108399

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of the required periodic payments applied to principal.

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Period of time between issuance and maturity of debt instrument, in PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current and noncurrent portions of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(22))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of current borrowing capacity under the credit facility considering any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed (for example, borrowings may be limited by the amount of current assets), but without considering any amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount, after unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-Section S99
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

Amount, after unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt, classified as current. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

+ References

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount after unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs of long-term debt classified as noncurrent and excluding amounts to be repaid within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

+ References

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of cash inflow from contractual arrangement with the lender, including but not limited to, letter of credit, standby letter of credit and revolving credit arrangements.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 14
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3255-108585

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-Section S99
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

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Balance Type:	debit
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Debt and Line of Credit (Details) $ in Thousands							12 Months Ended			27 Months Ended
Debt and Line of Credit (Details) $ in Thousands	Mar. 07, 2017 USD ($)	Jul. 02, 2014 USD ($) covenant	Jul. 01, 2014	Dec. 30, 2013 USD ($) satellite_hub	Jan. 30, 2013 USD ($) satellite_hub	Jun. 09, 2011	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) financial_covenants	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Jul. 01, 2019 USD ($)	Apr. 06, 2009 USD ($)
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Total outstanding at December 31							$ 47,054	$ 58,053
Repayments of Long-term loan							9,350	5,281	$ 4,876
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities							2,482	7,900
Long-term Debt, Excluding Current Maturities							44,572	50,153
Line of credit \| Term loan
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Total outstanding at December 31							$ 44,275	53,625
Mortgages
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount											$ 4,000
Debt instrument, maturity term							10 years
Debt instrument, principal amortization term							20 years
Monthly repayments of long-term debt, principal and interest							$ 0
Annual increase in repayments of long-term debt, principal and interest							0
Thereafter							$ 2,551
Number of financial covenants \| financial_covenants							1
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Total outstanding at December 31							$ 2,779	2,951
Mortgages \| Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, restrictive covenant, fixed charge coverage ratio, amount							25,000
Secured Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount				$ 1,200	$ 4,700
Debt instrument, maturity term				5 years	5 years
Number of satellite hubs pledged as collateral \| satellite_hub				1	6
Debt instrument, fixed interest rate				3.08%	2.76%
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Total outstanding at December 31							0	$ 1,477
Senior Credit Facility \| Line of credit \| Line of credit
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Term			5 years
Number of financial covenants \| covenant		2
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Line of credit facility, current borrowing capacity		$ 80,000
Proceeds from Lines of Credit		250
Line of credit facility, amount outstanding		$ 30,000
Line of Credit Facility, Mandatory Prepayment Provision, Net Cash Proceeds from Dispositions Not Reinvested, Percentage		100.00%
Line of Credit Facility, Mandatory Prepayment Provision, Net Cash Proceeds from Stated Equity Issuance, Percentage		50.00%
Line of Credit Facility, Mandatory Prepayment Provision, Net Cash Proceeds from Receipts Greater than 250 Thousand Dollars, Non-ordinary Business, Percentage		100.00%
Consolidated Leverage Ratio			1.50
Senior Credit Facility \| Line of credit \| Revolving loan agreement
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Line of credit facility, current borrowing capacity		$ 15,000					$ 15,000
Senior Credit Facility \| Line of credit \| Term loan
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Line of credit facility, current borrowing capacity		$ 65,000
Debt Instrument, Security Interest Pledged, Percentage			65.00%
Senior Credit Facility \| Line of credit \| Base Rate \| Maximum \| Line of credit
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate			2.25%
Senior Credit Facility \| Line of credit \| Base Rate \| Minimum \| Line of credit
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate			1.75%
Mortgage Loan On Headquarters Facility \| Mortgages \| London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate						2.00%
Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period One \| Senior Credit Facility \| Line of credit \| Term loan
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Repayments of Long-term loan	$ 6,000
Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period Six \| Senior Credit Facility \| Line of credit \| Line of credit
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of Credit Facility, Covenant Compliance, Maximum Consolidated Leverage Ratio								1.50
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Line of Credit Facility, Covenant Compliance, Maximum Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio							1.25
Subsequent Event [Member] \| Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period Three [Member] \| Senior Credit Facility \| Line of credit \| Term loan
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
Debt Instrument, Periodic Payment, Principal										$ 575