Note 18 - Stock Option and Purchase Plans (Details Textual) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Available for Grant	544,771	1,314,021
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense, Total	$ 637,000	$ 730,000
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value	$ 0.69	$ 0.45
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period	0	0
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Not yet Recognized, Stock Options	$ 677,000
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized, Period for Recognition	1 year 36 days
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested in Period, Fair Value	$ 184,000	$ 228,000
The 2010 Sypris Omnibus Plan [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Award Lapsing Restrictions Period	3 years
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Expiration Period	5 years
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period	3 years
The 2015 Omnibus Plan [Member]
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Award Lapsing Restrictions Period	3 years
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Expiration Period	5 years
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period	3 years
Employee Stock Option [Member] \| The 2010 Sypris Omnibus Plan [Member]
Common Stock, Capital Shares Reserved for Future Issuance	3,655,088
Employee Stock Option [Member] \| The 2015 Omnibus Plan [Member]
Common Stock, Capital Shares Reserved for Future Issuance	3,476,021
Restricted Stock [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Vested in Period, Fair Value	$ 381,000	$ 408,000

The length of the award lapsing restrictions period.

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Represents the expense recognized during the period arising from equity-based compensation arrangements (for example, shares of stock, unit, stock options or other equity instruments) with employees, directors and certain consultants qualifying for treatment as employees.

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Aggregate number of common shares reserved for future issuance.

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Weighted average period over which unrecognized compensation is expected to be recognized for equity-based compensation plans, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

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Unrecognized cost of unvested options awarded to employees as compensation.

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Period which an employee's right to exercise an award is no longer contingent on satisfaction of either a service condition, market condition or a performance condition, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

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Fair value of share-based awards for which the grantee gained the right by satisfying service and performance requirements, to receive or retain shares or units, other instruments, or cash.

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The difference between the maximum number of shares (or other type of equity) authorized for issuance under the plan (including the effects of amendments and adjustments), and the sum of: 1) the number of shares (or other type of equity) already issued upon exercise of options or other equity-based awards under the plan; and 2) shares (or other type of equity) reserved for issuance on granting of outstanding awards, net of cancellations and forfeitures, if applicable.

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The weighted average grant-date fair value of options granted during the reporting period as calculated by applying the disclosed option pricing methodology.

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Period from grant date that an equity-based award expires, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

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Number of share options (or share units) exercised during the current period.

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