Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
Mar. 29, 2019	May 10, 2019
Text Block [Abstract]
Registrant Name	EVANS & SUTHERLAND COMPUTER CORPORATION
Registrant CIK	0000276283
SEC Form	10-Q
Period End date	Mar. 29, 2019
Fiscal Year End	--12-31
Trading Symbol	escc
Tax Identification Number (TIN)	870278175
Number of common stock shares outstanding		11,482,516
Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Current with reporting	Yes
Entity Small Business	true
Emerging Growth Company	false
Ex Transition Period	false
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Contained File Information, File Number	001-14677
Entity Address, Address Line One	770 Komas Drive
Entity Address, City or Town	Salt Lake City
Entity Address, State or Province	Utah
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	84108
City Area Code	801
Local Phone Number	588-1000

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