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Equity - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
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12 Months Ended | 0 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 0 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||
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Dec. 31, 2013
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Dec. 31, 2012
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Dec. 31, 2011
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Dec. 31, 2012
Noncontrolling Interest
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Dec. 31, 2013
Class B Common Stock Converted Into Class A Common Stock
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Oct. 11, 2013
Class A Common Stock
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Dec. 31, 2011
Class A Common Stock
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Dec. 31, 2013
Class A Common Stock
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Dec. 31, 2012
Class A Common Stock
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Oct. 31, 2013
Class A Common Stock
My Yoga Online ULC
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Dec. 31, 2013
Class A Common Stock
Board of Directors Chairman
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Dec. 31, 2013
Class A Common Stock
Real Goods Solar
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May 28, 2013
Class A Common Stock
Real Goods Solar
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Dec. 31, 2011
Class A Common Stock
Real Goods Solar
Vote
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Dec. 31, 2013
Class A Common Stock
Long-Term Incentive Plan 2009
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Dec. 31, 2012
Class A Common Stock
Long-Term Incentive Plan 2009
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Dec. 31, 2011
Class A Common Stock
Long-Term Incentive Plan 2009
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Dec. 31, 2011
Class A Common Stock
Long-Term Incentive Plan 1999
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Dec. 31, 2013
Class B Common Stock
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Dec. 31, 2012
Class B Common Stock
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Dec. 31, 2013
Class B Common Stock
Board of Directors Chairman
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Dec. 31, 2011
Class B Common Stock
Real Goods Solar
Vote
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| Equity [Line Items] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of shares for compensation | 49,187 | 32,620 | 11,518 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance stock upon exercise of options | 0 | 160,470 | 15,200 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Restricted stock award agreements, number of shares issued | 15,759 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Business acquisition, shares consideration transferred | 1,055,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Percentage of ownership by parent in subsidiary | 51.40% | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Dividend paid from additional paid in capital | $ 700,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Dividend paid from retained earnings | 500,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Decrease in Gaiam, Inc.'s paid-in capital for its subsidiary's acquisition of a noncontrolling interest | 600,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of shares repurchased | 628,003 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of shares repurchased, value | $ 2,264,000 | $ 2,264,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of votes per share | 1 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Voting ownership percentage | 20.00% | 37.50% | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Ownership percentage of common stock shares outstanding of chairman | 75.00% | 100.00% | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Common stock, shares outstanding | 18,595,121 | 17,330,464 | 648,682 | 836,989 | 5,400,000 | 5,400,000 | 5,400,000 | |||||||||||||||
| Stock conversion ratio | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||