Quarterly Financial Information (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Revenue:
License fees									$ 8,684	$ 8,350	$ 7,045
Sensor modules									814	149
Non-recurring engineering									743	1,714	4,070
Total revenues									10,241	10,213	11,115
Cost of revenues:
Sensor modules									1,758	54
Non-recurring engineering									585	1,284	3,780
Total cost of revenues									2,343	1,338	3,780
Total gross margin									7,898	8,875	7,335
Operating expenses:
Research and development									6,078	7,069	6,279
Sales and marketing									2,772	2,857	3,753
General and administrative									4,524	4,093	4,999
Total operating expenses									13,374	14,019	15,031
Operating loss									(5,476)	(5,144)	(7,696)
Other expense, net:
Interest expense									(75)	(47)	(18)
Other expense, net										(91)	(28)
Total other expense, net									(75)	(138)	(46)
Loss before provision for income taxes									(5,551)	(5,282)	(7,742)
(Benefit from) provision for income taxes									(56)	367	93
Net loss including noncontrolling interests									(5,495)	(5,649)	(7,835)
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests									790	358	15
Net loss attributable to Neonode Inc.									$ (4,705)	$ (5,291)	$ (7,820)
Loss per common share:
Basic and diluted loss per share									$ (0.09)	$ (0.12)	$ (0.19)
Basic and diluted - weighted average number of common shares outstanding									52,889	45,690	41,202
Quarterly Financial Information [Member]
Revenue:
License fees	$ 2,526	$ 2,072	$ 1,965	$ 2,121	$ 2,233	$ 1,637	$ 2,012	$ 2,468
Sensor modules	180	211	213	210	149
Non-recurring engineering	569	22	151	1	486	2	562	664
Total revenues	3,275	2,305	2,329	2,332	2,868	1,639	2,574	3,132
Cost of revenues:
Sensor modules	1,248	151	258	101	54
Non-recurring engineering	448	0	133	4	271	33	385	595
Total cost of revenues	1,696	151	391	105	325	33	385	595
Total gross margin	1,579	2,154	1,938	2,227	2,543	1,606	2,189	2,537
Operating expenses:
Research and development	1,795	1,668	1,300	1,315	1,335	2,014	1,771	1,949
Sales and marketing	614	743	713	702	706	666	669	816
General and administrative	1,159	1,154	1,123	1,088	926	1,067	1,040	1,060
Total operating expenses	3,568	3,565	3,136	3,105	2,967	3,747	3,480	3,825
Operating loss	(1,989)	(1,411)	(1,198)	(878)	(424)	(2,141)	(1,291)	(1,288)
Other expense, net:
Interest expense	16	24	18	17	15	17	12	3
Other expense, net	0				0	49	1	41
Total other expense, net	16	24	18	17	15	66	13	44
Loss before provision for income taxes	(2,005)	(1,435)	(1,216)	(895)	(439)	(2,207)	(1,304)	(1,332)
(Benefit from) provision for income taxes	15	(24)	(121)	74	133	55	112	67
Net loss including noncontrolling interests	(2,020)	(1,411)	(1,095)	(969)	(572)	(2,262)	(1,416)	(1,399)
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	301	296	97	96	141	100	85	32
Net loss attributable to Neonode Inc.	$ (1,719)	$ (1,115)	$ (998)	$ (873)	$ (431)	$ (2,162)	$ (1,331)	$ (1,367)
Loss per common share:
Basic and diluted loss per share	$ (0.03)	$ (0.02)	$ (0.02)	$ (0.02)	$ (0.01)	$ (0.05)	$ (0.03)	$ (0.03)
Basic and diluted - weighted average number of common shares outstanding	58,595	55,166	48,845	48,845	48,845	46,252	43,817	43,810