Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Net operating revenues:
Operating revenues	$ 18,148	$ 16,364	$ 46,369	$ 41,643
Costs and expenses:
Depreciation and amortization expense	732	747	2,187	2,256
Selling, general and administrative expenses	2,297	2,240	6,737	6,305
Operating income (loss)	927	525	739	(267)
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	(167)	(176)	(512)	(528)
Other income, net	45	50	218	236
Income (loss) before income taxes	805	399	445	(559)
Provision for income taxes	52	29	112	81
Net income (loss)	753	370	333	(640)
Less net loss attributable to non-controlling interest in subsidiary	(96)	(177)	(340)	(382)
Net income (loss) attributable to Avalon Holdings Corporation common shareholders	$ 849	$ 547	$ 673	$ (258)
Income (loss) per share attributable to Avalon Holdings Corporation common shareholders:
Basic net income (loss) per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.22	$ 0.14	$ 0.18	$ (0.07)
Diluted net income (loss) per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.21	$ 0.14	$ 0.17	$ (0.07)
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	3,803,000	3,803,000	3,803,331	3,803,331
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	4,048,683	3,816,726	3,895,129	3,803,000
Waste Management Services [Member]
Net operating revenues:
Operating revenues	$ 12,557	$ 10,831	$ 32,525	$ 27,934
Costs and expenses:
Operating costs	9,863	8,792	25,615	22,219
Golf and Related Operations [Member]
Net operating revenues:
Operating revenues	5,591	5,533	13,844	13,709
Costs and expenses:
Operating costs	3,337	3,090	8,700	8,646
Golf and Related Operations [Member] | Food and Beverage [Member]
Net operating revenues:
Operating revenues	2,285	2,326	5,531	5,702
Costs and expenses:
Operating costs	992	970	2,391	2,484
Golf and Related Operations [Member] | Product and Service, Other [Member]
Net operating revenues:
Operating revenues	$ 3,306	$ 3,207	$ 8,313	$ 8,007