Consolidated Statements Of Stockholders' Equity (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Accumulated Deficit [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	MRV Stockholders' Equity Total [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Stockholders' Equity, Balance At The Beginning Of The Year at Dec. 31, 2008	$ 171,811	$ 268	$ 1,403,663	$ (1,248,639)	$ (1,352)	$ 12,760	$ 166,700	$ 5,111
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding At Begninning Of The Year at Dec. 31, 2008		157,446,000
Exercise of stock options, shares		(171,000)
Exercise of stock options, value	47		47				47
Share-based compensation expense	2,324		2,256				2,256	68
Purchase of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interest	1,500		951				951	549
Net income (loss)	1,400			(404)	0	0	(404)	1,804
Net unrealized investment losses (gains)	(114)					(114)	(114)
Translation adjustment	3,102					2,817	2,817	285
Comprehensive income (loss)	4,388						2,299	2,089
Stockholders' Equity, Balance At The End Of The Year at Dec. 31, 2009	177,070	268	1,405,015	(1,249,043)	(1,352)	15,463	170,351	6,719
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding At End Of The Year at Dec. 31, 2009		157,617,000
Purchase of treasury shares		(1,084,000)
Purchase of treasury shares, value	(1,494)				(1,494)		(1,494)
Exercise of stock options, shares		(1,067,000)
Exercise of stock options, value	995	2	993				995
Share-based compensation expense	2,899		2,718				2,718	181
Divesture of subsidiary	(6,109)					(4,019)	(4,019)	(2,090)
Purchase of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interest	(5,675)		1,508			(485)	1,023	(6,698)
Net income (loss)	50,780			48,691			48,691	2,089
Net unrealized investment losses (gains)	11					11	11
Translation adjustment	2,624					2,825	2,825	(201)
Comprehensive income (loss)	53,415						51,527	1,888
Stockholders' Equity, Balance At The End Of The Year at Dec. 31, 2010	221,101	270	1,410,234	(1,200,352)	(2,846)	13,795	221,101	0
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding At End Of The Year at Dec. 31, 2010	157,600	157,600,000
Purchase of treasury shares		(256,000)
Purchase of treasury shares, value	(425)				(425)	0	(425)	0
Exercise of stock options, shares		(248,000)
Exercise of stock options, value	232		232	0	0	0	232	0
Share-based compensation expense	2,469		2,469				2,469
Divesture of subsidiary	(1,907)						1,907	0
Dividend to common stockholders	(75,000)			0	0	0	(75,000)	0
Net income (loss)	(6,826)			(6,826)			(6,826)	0
Net unrealized investment losses (gains)	(3)					(3)	(3)
Translation adjustment	(1,241)					(1,241)	(1,241)	0
Comprehensive income (loss)	(8,070)						(8,070)	0
Stockholders' Equity, Balance At The End Of The Year at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 142,214	$ 270	$ 1,337,935	$ (1,207,178)	$ (3,271)	$ 14,458	$ 142,214	$ 0
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding At End Of The Year at Dec. 31, 2011	157,460	157,704,000