Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Mar. 14, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Central Index Key	0000883107
Entity Registrant Name	NANOPHASE TECHNOLOGIES Corp
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2017
Trading Symbol	NANX
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity a Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity a Voluntary Filer	No
Entity's Reporting Status Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Public Float			$ 10,312,000
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		33,847,793
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2017