Document and Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Oct. 31, 2019
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	FUEL TECH, INC.
Document Type	10-Q
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		24,186,824
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Central Index Key	0000846913
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Small Business	true
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2019
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus (Q1,Q2,Q3,FY)	Q3