Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Feb. 24, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
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, 2019
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		17,966,005
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Public Float			$ 167,642,021
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Small Business	true
Entity Shell Company	false