Document and Entity Information - shares	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 28, 2019	Jul. 24, 2019
Text Block [Abstract]
Registrant Name	EVANS & SUTHERLAND COMPUTER CORPORATION
Registrant CIK	0000276283
SEC Form	10-Q
Period End date	Jun. 28, 2019
Fiscal Year End	--12-31
Tax Identification Number (TIN)	87-0278175
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
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Entity File Number	001-14677
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	UT
Entity Address, Address Line One	770 Komas Drive
Entity Address, City or Town	Salt Lake City
Entity Address, State or Province	UT
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	84108
City Area Code	801
Local Phone Number	588-1000