Note 7 - Long-term Incentive Plan (Details) (USD $)			9 Months Ended								3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014 Share-based Compensation Award, Tranche One [Member] Avalon Holdings Corporation 2009 Long-term Incentive Plan [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Share-based Compensation Award, Tranche Two [Member] Avalon Holdings Corporation 2009 Long-term Incentive Plan [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Share-based Compensation Award, Tranche Three [Member] Avalon Holdings Corporation 2009 Long-term Incentive Plan [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Share-based Compensation Award, Tranche Four [Member] Avalon Holdings Corporation 2009 Long-term Incentive Plan [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Share-based Compensation Award, Tranche Five [Member] Avalon Holdings Corporation 2009 Long-term Incentive Plan [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Minimum [Member] Avalon Holdings Corporation 2009 Long-term Incentive Plan [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Maximum [Member] Avalon Holdings Corporation 2009 Long-term Incentive Plan [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Weighted Average [Member] Avalon Holdings Corporation 2009 Long-term Incentive Plan [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Avalon Holdings Corporation 2009 Long-term Incentive Plan [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Avalon Holdings Corporation 2009 Long-term Incentive Plan [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 Avalon Holdings Corporation 2009 Long-term Incentive Plan [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Avalon Holdings Corporation 2009 Long-term Incentive Plan [Member]
Note 7 - Long-term Incentive Plan (Details) [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Authorized (in Shares)											1,300,000		1,300,000
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Number (in Shares)	760,000	760,000									760,000		760,000
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period													5 years
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Expiration Period													10 years
Number of Years after Options Vested, Predetermined Vesting Stock Price													3 years
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period (in Shares)													0
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Requisite Service Period			2 years 197 days	3 years 197 days	4 years 197 days	5 years 197 days	6 years 197 days
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Term			6 years 98 days	6 years 281 days	7 years 98 days	7 years 281 days	8 years 98 days
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Volatility Rate								60.90%	61.70%	61.20%
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Dividend Rate													0.00%
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Risk Free Interest Rate								2.06%	2.28%
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense (in Dollars)											$ 19,000	$ 44,000	$ 60,000	$ 96,000
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized (in Dollars)											$ 115,000		$ 115,000
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized, Period for Recognition													1 year 167 days