Document And Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Mar. 15, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Document And Entity Information
Entity Registrant Name	Lifeway Foods, Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	0000814586
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2018
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Is Entity a Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Is Entity a Voluntary Filer	No
Is Entity's Reporting Status Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		15,762,801
Entity Public Float			$ 22,411,889
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2018
Entity Small Business	true
Entity Emerging Growth	false
Entity Ex Transition Period	false
Entity Shell Company	false