Description of Business	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013
Description of the Business [Abstract]
Description of the Business	Description of the Business Spire Corporation ("Spire" or the "Company") and its subsidiaries along with its variable interest entity develop, manufacture and market highly-engineered products and services in two principal business areas: (i) capital equipment for the photovoltaic solar industry and (ii) biomedical, through its variable interest entity, N2 Biomedical LLC ("N2 Bio"), generally bringing to bear expertise in materials technologies, surface science and thin films across both business areas, discussed below. In the photovoltaic solar area, the Company develops, manufactures and markets specialized equipment for the production of terrestrial photovoltaic modules from solar cells. The Company's equipment has been installed in approximately 200 factories in 50 countries. The equipment market is very competitive with major competitors located in the U.S., Japan and Europe. The Company's flagship product is its Spi-Sun simulator which tests module performance. The Company's other product offerings include turn-key module lines and to a lesser extent other individual equipment. To compete the Company offers other services such as training and assistance with module certification. The Company also provides turn-key services to its customers to backward integrate to solar cell manufacturing. In the biomedical area, through its variable interest entity, N2 Bio, the Company provides value-added surface treatments to manufacturers of orthopedic and other medical devices that enhance the durability, antimicrobial characteristics or other material characteristics of their products; and performs sponsored research programs into practical applications of advanced biomedical technologies. Liquidity Operating results will depend upon revenue growth or decline and product mix, as well as the timing of shipments of higher priced products from the Company's solar equipment line. Export sales, which amounted to 36% and 30% of net sales and revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, continue to constitute a significant portion of the Company's net sales and revenues. The Company has incurred losses from operations. Losses from operations was $2.6 million and $2.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Net cash used in operating activities was $1.2 million and $790 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. As of March 31, 2014, the Company had unrestricted cash and cash equivalents of $2.4 million compared to $4.0 million as of December 31, 2013. The Company's credit facilities with Silicon Valley Bank expired on April 30, 2014 and will not be renewed and the Company has repaid the outstanding amounts as of this date. The maturity date of N2 Bio's revolving credit facility with Middlesex Savings Bank is May 31, 2014. These factors raise substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern. The Company currently believes that its existing cash resources at March 31, 2014, will be sufficient to fund its operations into the second half of 2014; however, the Company cannot assure you of this. The Company has various options on how to fund future operational losses and working capital needs, including but not limited to sales of equity, bank debt, private lenders, the sale or license of assets and technology, or joint ventures involving cash infusions, as it has done in the past; however, there are no assurances that the Company will be able to sell equity, obtain or access bank debt or alternative financing, sell or license assets or technology or enter into such joint ventures on a timely basis and at appropriate values. The Company has developed several plans including potential strategic alternatives, cost reduction efforts and expanding revenue in other markets to offset a decline in business due to global economic conditions. The Company's inability to successfully implement its cost reduction strategies, expand revenue in other markets or to replace its expired credit facilities, could adversely impact the Company's ability to continue as a going concern. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might be necessary if the Company is unable to continue as a going concern.

Description of the Business

Spire Corporation ("Spire" or the "Company") and its subsidiaries along with its variable interest entity develop, manufacture and market highly-engineered products and services in two principal business areas: (i) capital equipment for the photovoltaic solar industry and (ii) biomedical, through its variable interest entity, N2 Biomedical LLC ("N2 Bio"), generally bringing to bear expertise in materials technologies, surface science and thin films across both business areas, discussed below.

In the photovoltaic solar area, the Company develops, manufactures and markets specialized equipment for the production of terrestrial photovoltaic modules from solar cells. The Company's equipment has been installed in approximately 200 factories in 50 countries. The equipment market is very competitive with major competitors located in the U.S., Japan and Europe. The Company's flagship product is its Spi-Sun simulator which tests module performance. The Company's other product offerings include turn-key module lines and to a lesser extent other individual equipment. To compete the Company offers other services such as training and assistance with module certification. The Company also provides turn-key services to its customers to backward integrate to solar cell manufacturing.

In the biomedical area, through its variable interest entity, N2 Bio, the Company provides value-added surface treatments to manufacturers of orthopedic and other medical devices that enhance the durability, antimicrobial characteristics or other material characteristics of their products; and performs sponsored research programs into practical applications of advanced biomedical technologies.

Liquidity

Operating results will depend upon revenue growth or decline and product mix, as well as the timing of shipments of higher priced products from the Company's solar equipment line. Export sales, which amounted to 36% and 30% of net sales and revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, continue to constitute a significant portion of the Company's net sales and revenues.

The Company has incurred losses from operations. Losses from operations was $2.6 million and $2.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Net cash used in operating activities was $1.2 million and $790 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. As of March 31, 2014, the Company had unrestricted cash and cash equivalents of $2.4 million compared to $4.0 million as of December 31, 2013. The Company's credit facilities with Silicon Valley Bank expired on April 30, 2014 and will not be renewed and the Company has repaid the outstanding amounts as of this date. The maturity date of N2 Bio's revolving credit facility with Middlesex Savings Bank is May 31, 2014. These factors raise substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern. The Company currently believes that its existing cash resources at March 31, 2014, will be sufficient to fund its operations into the second half of 2014; however, the Company cannot assure you of this.

The Company has various options on how to fund future operational losses and working capital needs, including but not limited to sales of equity, bank debt, private lenders, the sale or license of assets and technology, or joint ventures involving cash infusions, as it has done in the past; however, there are no assurances that the Company will be able to sell equity, obtain or access bank debt or alternative financing, sell or license assets or technology or enter into such joint ventures on a timely basis and at appropriate values. The Company has developed several plans including potential strategic alternatives, cost reduction efforts and expanding revenue in other markets to offset a decline in business due to global economic conditions. The Company's inability to successfully implement its cost reduction strategies, expand revenue in other markets or to replace its expired credit facilities, could adversely impact the Company's ability to continue as a going concern.

The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might be necessary if the Company is unable to continue as a going concern.