Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Mar. 12, 2022	Jun. 30, 2020
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2021
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2021
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Trading Symbol	PCTI
Entity Registrant Name	PCTEL, Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	0001057083
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Small Business	true
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, $.001 Par Value Per Share
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity File Number	000-27115
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	77-0364943
Entity Common Stock Shares Outstanding		18,318,850
Entity Public Float			$ 125,517,171
Document Annual Report	true
Document Transition Report	false
Entity Address, Address Line One	471 Brighton Drive
Entity Address, City or Town	Bloomingdale
Entity Address, State or Province	IL
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	60108
City Area Code	630
Local Phone Number	372-6800
Documents Incorporated by Reference	Certain sections of the registrant's definitive proxy statement relating to its 2022 Annual Stockholders' Meeting to be held on May 25, 2022 are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Company intends to file its proxy statement within 120 days after the end of its fiscal year end to which this report relates.
ICFR Auditor Attestation Flag	true
Auditor Firm ID	248
Auditor Name	GRANT THORNTON LLP
Auditor Location	Chicago, Illinois