XML 12 R1.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.7.0.1
Document and Entity Information - shares
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2017
May 03, 2017
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]    
Entity Registrant Name RESEARCH FRONTIERS INC  
Entity Central Index Key 0000793524  
Document Type 10-Q  
Document Period End Date Mar. 31, 2017  
Amendment Flag false  
Current Fiscal Year End Date --12-31  
Entity Filer Category Accelerated Filer  
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding   24,043,846
Trading Symbol REFR  
Document Fiscal Period Focus Q1  
Document Fiscal Year Focus 2017