Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net revenue	$ 9,300,000	$ 11,500,000	$ 27,700,000	$ 32,800,000
Cost of goods sold	5,300,000	6,300,000	15,200,000	18,500,000
Gross profit	4,000,000	5,200,000	12,500,000	14,300,000
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative	7,000,000	8,700,000	23,400,000	27,600,000
Research and development	1,800,000	2,900,000	6,500,000	9,500,000
GBAM Fund expenses	300,000	0	300,000	0
Restructuring and other	1,200,000	1,300,000	1,100,000	7,100,000
Total operating expenses	10,300,000	12,900,000	31,300,000	44,200,000
Operating loss from continuing operations	(6,300,000)	(7,700,000)	(18,800,000)	(29,900,000)
Other income (expense):
Interest income	0	0	0	200,000
Net gains from GBAM Fund activities	1,000,000	0	1,000,000	0
Other income (expense), net	100,000	200,000	(600,000)	(800,000)
Total other income (expense)	1,100,000	200,000	400,000	(600,000)
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes	(5,200,000)	(7,500,000)	(18,400,000)	(30,500,000)
Income tax benefit	3,500,000	200,000	3,500,000	2,300,000
Loss from continuing operations	(1,700,000)	(7,300,000)	(14,900,000)	(28,200,000)
Discontinued operations:
Gain on sale of discontinued businesses, net of income taxes	0	0	0	2,400,000
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	7,700,000	200,000	4,500,000	(2,200,000)
Reclassification of cumulative translation adjustment	0	0	0	(75,800,000)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	7,700,000	200,000	4,500,000	(75,600,000)
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interest	6,000,000	(7,100,000)	(10,400,000)	(103,800,000)
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(2,000,000)	0	(5,500,000)	0
Net income (loss) attributable to GlassBridge Enterprises, Inc.	$ 8,000,000	$ (7,100,000)	$ (4,900,000)	$ (103,800,000)
Income(loss) per common share attributable to GlassBridge common shareholders — basic and diluted:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.06	$ (1.97)	$ (2.04)	$ (7.62)
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	1.54	0.05	0.98	(20.43)
Net income (loss) (in dollars per share)	$ 1.60	$ (1.92)	$ (1.06)	$ (28.05)
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic and diluted (in shares)	5.0	3.7	4.6	3.7