Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Summary of Reconciliation of Carrying Amount of Total Equity (Detail)

v2.4.1.9
Summary of Reconciliation of Carrying Amount of Total Equity (Detail) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2014
Equity [Line Items]    
Beginning Balance $ 99,559us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest  
Issuance of Gaiam, Inc. common stock for stock option exercises and share-based compensation 416gaia_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueNewIssuesAndShareBasedCompensation  
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interest (486)us-gaap_MinorityInterestDecreaseFromDistributionsToNoncontrollingInterestHolders  
Comprehensive loss:    
Net (loss) income (3,884)us-gaap_ProfitLoss (2,072)us-gaap_ProfitLoss
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of taxes of $29 (67)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax 11us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax
Comprehensive loss (3,951)us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest (1,829)us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest
Ending Balance 95,538us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest  
Comprehensive Loss    
Comprehensive loss:    
Net (loss) income (3,884)us-gaap_ProfitLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeMember
 
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of taxes of $29 (67)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeMember
 
Comprehensive loss (3,951)us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTaxIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeMember
 
Accumulated Deficit    
Equity [Line Items]    
Beginning Balance (76,329)us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember
 
Comprehensive loss:    
Net (loss) income (3,892)us-gaap_ProfitLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember
 
Ending Balance (80,221)us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember
 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss    
Equity [Line Items]    
Beginning Balance (200)us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember
 
Comprehensive loss:    
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of taxes of $29 (45)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember
 
Ending Balance (245)us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember
 
Class A and Class B Common Stock    
Equity [Line Items]    
Beginning Balance 3us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_CommonStockMember
 
Issuance of Gaiam, Inc. common stock for stock option exercises and share-based compensation     
Comprehensive loss:    
Ending Balance 3us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_CommonStockMember
 
Paid-in Capital    
Equity [Line Items]    
Beginning Balance 171,315us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember
 
Issuance of Gaiam, Inc. common stock for stock option exercises and share-based compensation 416gaia_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueNewIssuesAndShareBasedCompensation
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember
 
Comprehensive loss:    
Ending Balance 171,731us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember
 
Noncontrolling Interest    
Equity [Line Items]    
Beginning Balance 4,770us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_NoncontrollingInterestMember
 
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interest (486)us-gaap_MinorityInterestDecreaseFromDistributionsToNoncontrollingInterestHolders
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_NoncontrollingInterestMember
 
Comprehensive loss:    
Net (loss) income 8us-gaap_ProfitLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_NoncontrollingInterestMember
 
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of taxes of $29 (22)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_NoncontrollingInterestMember
 
Ending Balance $ 4,270us-gaap_StockholdersEquityIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_NoncontrollingInterestMember