Note 16 - Restatement of Financial Statements - Restatement of Financial Statements (Details) - USD ($)		3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Jul. 01, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019		Sep. 30, 2018		Sep. 30, 2019		Sep. 30, 2018		Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 59,205				$ 59,205				$ 258,238
Accounts receivable		6,914,584				6,914,584				10,245,728
Inventories, net		16,286,452				16,286,452				17,388,634
Prepaid expenses		452,125				452,125				834,690
Other current assets		1,145,545				1,145,545				784,125
Receivable from related party		1,392,666				1,392,666
Current assets of discontinued operations		1,304,305				1,304,305				3,499,319
Total current assets		27,554,882				27,554,882				33,010,734
Machinery and equipment		23,747,842				23,747,842				23,668,082
Building		3,374,334				3,374,334				3,367,082
Office furniture and equipment		2,285,345				2,285,345				2,573,095
Intellectual property		783,179				783,179				783,179
Land		250,000				250,000				250,000
Leasehold improvements		409,347				409,347				409,188
Fixtures and equipment at customer locations		518,450				518,450				518,450
Projects under construction		96,696				96,696				150,272
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross, Ending Balance		31,465,193				31,465,193				31,719,348
Less : accumulated depreciation and amortization		(28,600,235)				(28,600,235)				(27,998,437)
Total property, plant and equipment, net		2,864,958				2,864,958				3,720,912
Goodwill										1,473,176
Net deferred income tax asset		135,094				135,094				135,094
Net lease assets		1,295,745				1,295,745
Other non-current assets
Other assets		123,160				123,160
Assets, Noncurrent, Excluding Property, Plant, and Equipment		1,554,000				1,554,000				1,856,390
Other non-current assets of discontinued operations										172,798
TOTAL ASSETS		31,973,840				31,973,840				38,760,834
Checks written in excess of bank balance		244,201				244,201				636,142
Trade payables		8,032,613				8,032,613				5,951,929
Line of credit		12,560,206				12,560,206				16,582,963
Notes payable - current portion		3,787,533				3,787,533				4,432,320
Notes payable affiliates - current portion		11,789				11,789				10,821
Operating		839,836				839,836				0
Accrued liabilities		1,062,601				1,062,601				1,786,761
Current liabilities of discontinued operations		1,071,617				1,071,617				807,776
Liabilities, Current, Total		27,610,396				27,610,396				30,208,712
Notes payable - affiliates		19,347				19,347				167,248
Notes payable, net of current portion		839,207				839,207				399,912
Operating Lease Liabilities		455,909				455,909
Notes payable - officers, subordinated		1,042,766				1,042,766				1,597,019
Other long-term liabilities		214,074				214,074				100,340
Deferred income tax liability
Other long-term liabilities of discontinued operations										31,874
Total long-term debt, net of current portion		2,571,303				2,571,303
Liabilities, Noncurrent, Total		2,571,303				2,571,303				2,296,393
TOTAL LIABILITIES		30,181,699				30,181,699				32,505,105
Preferred Stock -- no par value, 3,000,000 shares authorized, 0 shares issued and outstanding
Common stock - no par value, 15,000,000 shares authorized, 3,879,608 shares issued and 3,835,950 shares outstanding		13,898,494				13,898,494				13,898,494
Paid-in-capital		3,481,838				3,481,838				2,506,437
Accumulated earnings		(8,545,637)				(8,545,637)				(2,865,486)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(6,034,745)				(6,034,745)				(6,050,347)
Less: Treasury stock, 43,658 shares		(160,784)				(160,784)				(160,784)
Total Yunhong CTI, LTD stockholders' equity		2,639,166				2,639,166				7,328,314
Noncontrolling interest		(847,025)				(847,025)				(1,072,585)
Total Equity		1,792,141				1,792,141				6,255,729
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY		31,973,840				31,973,840				38,760,834
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax		8,329,043		$ 10,128,436		30,297,835		$ 36,508,220
Cost of Sales		7,706,748		8,295,669		25,651,678		28,776,700
Gross profit		622,295		1,832,767		4,646,157		7,731,520
General and administrative		1,148,482		1,277,503		3,939,289		4,307,784
Selling		233,506		629,706		842,546		2,208,925
Advertising and marketing		134,040		302,985		485,096		931,475
Impairment on long-lived assets						1,252,283
Gain on deconsolidation of Clever	$ (219,000)	(218,527)				(218,534)
Gain on sale of assets		(23,054)		(24,061)		(70,263)		(71,474)
Total operating expenses		1,274,447		2,186,133		6,450,524		7,376,710
Income/(Loss) from operations		(652,152)		(353,366)		(1,804,367)		354,810
Interest expense		(464,546)		(462,855)		(1,493,264)		(1,560,130)
Interest income				(27)				(356)
Other Expense		(82,873)				(485,742)
Foreign currency loss		(25,747)		24,584		(27,458)		8,336
Total other expense, net		(573,166)		(438,355)		(2,006,464)		(1,550,549)
Income from continuing operations before taxes		(1,225,318)		(791,721)		(3,810,831)		(1,195,739)
Income tax expense				(221,803)				(347,318)
Income from continuing operations		(1,225,318)		(569,918)		(3,810,831)		(848,422)
Income (Loss) from discontinued operations (including loss on HFS of $0.6M), net of tax		(999,251)		23,693		(2,730,796)		37,354
Net income (loss)		(2,224,569)		(546,225)		(6,541,627)		(811,068)
Less: Net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interest		(282,985)		13,072		(861,475)		(38,968)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent, Total		(1,941,584)		(559,297)		(5,680,152)		(772,100)		(3,600,000)	$ (1,600,000)	$ 700,000
Foreign currency adjustment		(281,817)		231,827		15,603		(110,605)
Comprehensive Income (Loss)		$ (2,223,401)		$ (327,470)		$ (5,664,549)		$ (882,705)
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)		$ (0.25)		$ (0.16)		$ (0.77)		$ (0.23)
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)		(0.26)		0		(0.71)		0.01
Basic income per common share (in dollars per share)		(0.51)		(0.16)		(1.48)		(0.22)
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)		(0.25)		(0.16)		(0.77)		(0.23)
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)		(0.26)		0		(0.71)		(0.01)
Diluted income per common share (in dollars per share)		$ (0.51)		$ (0.16)		$ (1.48)		$ (0.22)
Basic (in shares)		3,835,950		3,530,227		3,835,950		3,530,227
Diluted (in shares)		3,835,950		3,530,227		3,835,950		3,530,227
Depreciation and amortization						$ 835,302		$ 981,449
Operating Cash Flows from Operating Leases
Amortization of deferred gain on sale/leaseback						(82,422)		(83,394)
Other						248,974
Provision for losses on accounts receivable						399,463		(40,924)
Provision for losses on inventories						1,249,519		14,250
Stock based compensation						72,401		139,450
Impairment of Prepaids, Current Assets, and Other Non-Current Assets						168,931
Impairment of assets held for sale						604,483
Deferred income taxes								(347,725)
Loss on disposition of asset						17,480
Accounts receivable						2,776,396		1,717,018
Inventories						1,435,411		(819,293)
Prepaid expenses and other assets						228,389		(776,294)
Trade payables						1,892,671		385,715
Accrued liabilities						(166,823)		(267,938)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities						4,172,297		91,246
Purchases of property, plant and equipment						(144,222)		(323,785)
Net cash (used in) investing activities						(144,222)		(323,785)
Change in checks written in excess of bank balance						(391,313)		149,447
Net change in revolving line of credit						(3,808,012)		821,390
Repayment of long-term debt						(913,855)		(697,040)
Proceeds from issuance of stock						0
Cash paid for deferred financing fees						(82,763)		(32,805)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt						650,000
Net cash (used in) financing activities						(4,545,943)		240,992
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash						205,692		84,360
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents						(312,176)		92,813
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period						428,150		181,026		181,026
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		$ 115,974	[1],[2]	$ 273,839	[1]	115,974	[1],[2]	273,839	[1]	428,150	$ 181,026
Cash payments for interest						1,558,817		1,381,149
Conversion from Accounts Payable To Common Stock [Member]
Common stock issued						303,000
Conversion from Notes Payable To Common Stock [Member]
Common stock issued						600,000
Previously Reported [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents		126,647				126,647
Accounts receivable		8,134,291				8,134,291
Inventories, net		18,345,406				18,345,406
Prepaid expenses		556,594				556,594
Other current assets		1,293,899				1,293,899
Receivable from related party
Current assets of discontinued operations
Total current assets		28,456,837				28,456,837
Machinery and equipment		23,883,267				23,883,267
Building		3,374,334				3,374,334
Office furniture and equipment		2,692,423				2,692,423
Intellectual property		783,179				783,179
Land		250,000				250,000
Leasehold improvements		409,347				409,347
Fixtures and equipment at customer locations		518,450				518,450
Projects under construction		189,795				189,795
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross, Ending Balance		32,100,795				32,100,795
Less : accumulated depreciation and amortization		(28,865,571)				(28,865,571)
Total property, plant and equipment, net		3,235,224				3,235,224
Goodwill		1,473,176				1,473,176
Net deferred income tax asset		1,051,128				1,051,128
Net lease assets		1,711,812				1,711,812
Other non-current assets		(3,000,000)				(3,000,000)
Other assets		(31,086)				(31,086)
Assets, Noncurrent, Excluding Property, Plant, and Equipment		1,205,030				1,205,030
Other non-current assets of discontinued operations
TOTAL ASSETS		32,897,091				32,897,091
Checks written in excess of bank balance		244,829				244,829
Trade payables		8,522,419				8,522,419
Line of credit		12,774,347				12,774,347
Notes payable - current portion		3,787,533				3,787,533
Notes payable affiliates - current portion		11,789				11,789
Operating		1,268,257				1,268,257
Accrued liabilities		1,550,238				1,550,238
Current liabilities of discontinued operations
Liabilities, Current, Total		28,159,412				28,159,412
Notes payable - affiliates		221,362				221,362
Notes payable, net of current portion
Operating Lease Liabilities		868,707				868,707
Notes payable - officers, subordinated		443,555				443,555
Other long-term liabilities		1,042,766				1,042,766
Deferred income tax liability		214,074				214,074
Other long-term liabilities of discontinued operations
Total long-term debt, net of current portion		2,790,464				2,790,464
Liabilities, Noncurrent, Total		2,790,464				2,790,464
TOTAL LIABILITIES		30,949,876				30,949,876
Preferred Stock -- no par value, 3,000,000 shares authorized, 0 shares issued and outstanding
Common stock - no par value, 15,000,000 shares authorized, 3,879,608 shares issued and 3,835,950 shares outstanding		13,898,494				13,898,494
Paid-in-capital		3,481,838				3,481,838
Accumulated earnings		(8,007,958)				(8,007,958)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(6,034,745)				(6,034,745)
Less: Treasury stock, 43,658 shares		(160,784)				(160,784)
Total Yunhong CTI, LTD stockholders' equity		3,176,845				3,176,845
Noncontrolling interest		(1,229,630)				(1,229,630)
Total Equity		1,947,215				1,947,215
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY		32,897,091				32,897,091
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax		8,537,475				33,480,704
Cost of Sales		7,729,851				28,139,175
Gross profit		807,624				5,341,529
General and administrative		1,466,830				5,054,028
Selling		377,577				1,230,181
Advertising and marketing		222,061				766,297
Impairment on long-lived assets
Gain on deconsolidation of Clever
Gain on sale of assets		(23,054)				(70,263)
Total operating expenses		2,043,414				6,980,243
Income/(Loss) from operations		(1,235,790)				(1,638,714)
Interest expense		(486,636)				(1,549,703)
Interest income		99				435
Other Expense						(3,000,000)
Foreign currency loss		(28,420)				(27,568)
Total other expense, net		(514,957)				(4,576,836)
Income from continuing operations before taxes		(1,750,747)				(6,215,550)
Income tax expense		(511,823)				(916,033)
Income from continuing operations		(1,238,924)				(5,299,517)
Income (Loss) from discontinued operations (including loss on HFS of $0.6M), net of tax
Net income (loss)		(1,238,924)				(5,299,517)
Less: Net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interest		(71,559)				(157,045)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent, Total		(1,167,365)				(5,142,472)
Foreign currency adjustment		(281,817)				15,603
Comprehensive Income (Loss)		$ (1,449,182)				$ (5,126,869)
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)		$ (0.30)				$ (1.34)
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)
Basic income per common share (in dollars per share)		(0.30)				(1.34)
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)		(0.30)				(1.34)
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)
Diluted income per common share (in dollars per share)		$ (0.30)				$ (1.34)
Basic (in shares)		3,835,950				3,835,950
Diluted (in shares)		3,835,950				3,835,950
Depreciation and amortization						$ 835,302
Operating Cash Flows from Operating Leases						606,356
Amortization of deferred gain on sale/leaseback						116,277
Other
Provision for losses on accounts receivable						27,362
Provision for losses on inventories						(157,243)
Stock based compensation
Impairment of Prepaids, Current Assets, and Other Non-Current Assets
Impairment of assets held for sale						3,000,000
Deferred income taxes						(916,033)
Loss on disposition of asset						17,480
Accounts receivable						2,626,396
Inventories						1,685,411
Prepaid expenses and other assets						228,389
Trade payables						1,846,575
Accrued liabilities						(23,878)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities						4,592,877
Purchases of property, plant and equipment						(144,222)
Net cash (used in) investing activities						(144,222)
Change in checks written in excess of bank balance						(391,313)
Net change in revolving line of credit						(3,808,012)
Repayment of long-term debt						(913,855)
Proceeds from issuance of stock						975,401
Cash paid for deferred financing fees						(82,763)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt						125,000
Net cash (used in) financing activities						(4,095,542)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash						(654,616)
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents						(301,503)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period						428,150
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		$ 126,647	[2]			126,647	[2]			428,150
Cash payments for interest						1,558,817
Previously Reported [Member] | Conversion from Accounts Payable To Common Stock [Member]
Common stock issued
Previously Reported [Member] | Conversion from Notes Payable To Common Stock [Member]
Common stock issued
Revision of Prior Period, Adjustment [Member]
Cash and cash equivalents		(67,442)				(67,442)
Accounts receivable		(1,219,707)				(1,219,707)
Inventories, net		(2,058,954)				(2,058,954)
Prepaid expenses		(104,469)				(104,469)
Other current assets		(148,354)				(148,354)
Receivable from related party		1,392,666				1,392,666
Current assets of discontinued operations		1,304,305				1,304,305
Total current assets		(901,955)				(901,955)
Machinery and equipment		(135,425)				(135,425)
Building
Office furniture and equipment		(407,078)				(407,078)
Intellectual property
Land
Leasehold improvements
Fixtures and equipment at customer locations
Projects under construction		(93,099)				(93,099)
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross, Ending Balance		(635,602)				(635,602)
Less : accumulated depreciation and amortization		265,336				265,336
Total property, plant and equipment, net		(370,266)				(370,266)
Goodwill		(1,473,176)				(1,473,176)
Net deferred income tax asset		(916,034)				(916,034)
Net lease assets		(416,067)				(416,067)
Other non-current assets		3,000,000				3,000,000
Other assets		154,246				154,246
Assets, Noncurrent, Excluding Property, Plant, and Equipment		348,970				348,970
Other non-current assets of discontinued operations
TOTAL ASSETS		(923,251)				(923,251)
Checks written in excess of bank balance		(628)				(628)
Trade payables		(489,806)				(489,806)
Line of credit		(214,141)				(214,141)
Notes payable - current portion
Notes payable affiliates - current portion
Operating		(428,421)				(428,421)
Accrued liabilities		(487,637)				(487,637)
Current liabilities of discontinued operations		1,071,617				1,071,617
Liabilities, Current, Total		(549,016)				(549,016)
Notes payable - affiliates		(202,015)				(202,015)
Notes payable, net of current portion		839,207				839,207
Operating Lease Liabilities		(412,798)				(412,798)
Notes payable - officers, subordinated		599,211				599,211
Other long-term liabilities		(828,692)				(828,692)
Deferred income tax liability		(214,074)				(214,074)
Other long-term liabilities of discontinued operations
Total long-term debt, net of current portion		(219,161)				(219,161)
Liabilities, Noncurrent, Total		(219,161)				(219,161)
TOTAL LIABILITIES		(768,177)				(768,177)
Preferred Stock -- no par value, 3,000,000 shares authorized, 0 shares issued and outstanding
Common stock - no par value, 15,000,000 shares authorized, 3,879,608 shares issued and 3,835,950 shares outstanding
Paid-in-capital
Accumulated earnings		(537,679)				(537,679)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
Less: Treasury stock, 43,658 shares
Total Yunhong CTI, LTD stockholders' equity		(537,679)				(537,679)
Noncontrolling interest		382,605				382,605
Total Equity		(155,074)				(155,074)
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY		(923,251)				(923,251)
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax		(208,432)				(3,182,869)
Cost of Sales		(23,103)				(2,487,497)
Gross profit		(185,329)				(695,372)
General and administrative		(318,348)				(1,114,739)
Selling		(144,071)				(387,635)
Advertising and marketing		(88,021)				(281,201)
Impairment on long-lived assets						1,472,382
Gain on deconsolidation of Clever		(218,527)				(218,527)
Gain on sale of assets
Total operating expenses		(768,967)				(529,719)
Income/(Loss) from operations		583,638				(165,653)
Interest expense		22,090				56,439
Interest income		(99)				(435)
Other Expense		(82,873)				2,514,258
Foreign currency loss		2,673				110
Total other expense, net		(58,209)				2,570,372
Income from continuing operations before taxes		525,429				2,404,719
Income tax expense		511,823				916,033
Income from continuing operations		13,606				1,488,686
Income (Loss) from discontinued operations (including loss on HFS of $0.6M), net of tax		(999,251)				(2,730,796)
Net income (loss)		(985,645)				(1,242,110)
Less: Net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interest		(211,426)				(704,430)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent, Total		(774,219)				(537,680)
Foreign currency adjustment
Comprehensive Income (Loss)		$ (774,219)				$ (537,680)
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)		$ 0.05				$ 0.57
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)		(0.26)				(0.71)
Basic income per common share (in dollars per share)		(0.21)				(0.14)
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)		0.50				0.57
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)		(0.26)				(0.71)
Diluted income per common share (in dollars per share)		$ (0.21)				$ (0.14)
Basic (in shares)
Diluted (in shares)
Depreciation and amortization
Operating Cash Flows from Operating Leases						(606,356)
Amortization of deferred gain on sale/leaseback						(198,699)
Other						248,974
Provision for losses on accounts receivable						372,101
Provision for losses on inventories						1,406,762
Stock based compensation						72,401
Impairment of Prepaids, Current Assets, and Other Non-Current Assets						168,931
Impairment of assets held for sale						(2,395,517)
Deferred income taxes						916,033
Loss on disposition of asset
Accounts receivable						150,000
Inventories						(250,000)
Prepaid expenses and other assets
Trade payables						46,096
Accrued liabilities						(142,945)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities						(421,580)
Purchases of property, plant and equipment
Net cash (used in) investing activities
Change in checks written in excess of bank balance
Net change in revolving line of credit
Repayment of long-term debt
Proceeds from issuance of stock						(975,401)
Cash paid for deferred financing fees
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt						525,000
Net cash (used in) financing activities						(450,401)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash						861,308
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents						(10,673)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		$ (10,673)	[2]			(10,673)	[2]
Cash payments for interest
Revision of Prior Period, Adjustment [Member] | Conversion from Accounts Payable To Common Stock [Member]
Common stock issued
Revision of Prior Period, Adjustment [Member] | Conversion from Notes Payable To Common Stock [Member]
Common stock issued

[1] The cash flows related to discontinued operations have not been segregated, and are included in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. The cash and equivalents amounts presented above differ from cash and equivalents in the Consolidated Balance Sheets due to cash included in "Current assets of discontinued operations in amount of $57,000."

[2] The cash flows related to discontinued operations have not been segregated, and are included in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. The cash and equivalents amounts presented above differ from cash and equivalents in the Consolidated Balance Sheets due to cash included in "Current assets of discontinued operations in amount of $57,000."