Document And Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Nov. 09, 2016
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	TRANS LUX CORP
Document Type	10-Q
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		1,710,671
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Central Index Key	0000099106
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2016
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3