Document and Entity Information Document	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Aug. 08, 2014
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	PDI INC
Entity Central Index Key	0001054102
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2014
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2014
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		15,361,725