Document And Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Mar. 30, 2020	Jun. 28, 2019
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2019
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Registrant Name	PARKERVISION INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000914139
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Small Business	true
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 3,069,058
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		43,102,745