Document And Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Mar. 15, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Cover [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	Lifeway Foods, Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	0000814586
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2020
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		15,604,480
Entity Public Float			$ 9,390,506
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Entity Small Business	true
Entity Emerging Growth	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Enitity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Incorporation State County Code	IL
Entity File Number	000-17363