Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	3 Months Ended
Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	Mar. 31, 2017
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Accounting, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Basis of Presentation The accompanying unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of BIO-key International, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary (collectively, the “Company” or “BIO-key”) and are stated in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The operating results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for any other interim period or for the full year. Pursuant to such rules and regulations, certain financial information and footnote disclosures normally included in the financial statements have been condensed or omitted. Significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements contain all necessary adjustments, consisting only of those of a recurring nature, and disclosures to present fairly the Company’s financial position and the results of its operations and cash flows for the periods presented. The balance sheet at March 31, 2017 was derived from the audited financial statements, but does not include all of the disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the related notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10 -K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, initially filed with the SEC on March 31, 2017.
New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements In May 2014, ASU No. 2014 - 09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” was issued. The comprehensive new standard will supersede existing revenue recognition guidance and require revenue to be recognized when promised goods or services are transferred to customers in amounts that reflect the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The guidance will also require that certain contract costs incurred to obtain or fulfill a contract, such as sales commissions, be capitalized as an asset and amortized as revenue is recognized. Adoption of the new rules could affect the timing of both revenue recognition and the incurrence of contract costs for certain transactions. The guidance permits two implementation approaches, one requiring retrospective application of the new standard with restatement of prior years and one requiring prospective application of the new standard with disclosure of results under old standards. The new standard was scheduled to be effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and early adoption is not permitted. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015 - 14, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of Effective Date" ("ASU 2015 - 14") which defers the effective date of ASU 2014 - 09 by one year. ASU 2014 - 09 is now effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017 including interim periods within that reporting period. The Company is continuing to evaluate the standard’s impact on its consolidated results of operations and financial condition. BIO-key has conducted initial analyses, developed a project management plan relative to the process of adopting this ASU, and is currently completing detailed contract reviews to determine potential adjustments to existing accounting policies as well as to support an evaluation of the standard’s impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations and financial condition. For the majority of BIO-key’s revenue arrangements, no significant impacts are expected. However, in addition to expanded disclosures regarding revenue, the ASU could, for example, impact the timing of revenue recognition in some arrangements for which software industry-specific guidance (which the ASU supersedes) is presently utilized. The Company currently anticipates utilizing the modified retrospective method of adoption on January 1, 2018. In July 2015 the FASB issued ASU No. 2015 - 11, "Inventory (Topic 330): Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory" ("ASU 2015 - 11"). The amendments in ASU 2015 - 11 clarifies the measurement of inventory to be the lower of cost or realizable value and would only apply to inventory valued using the FIFO or average costing methods. ASU 2015 - 11 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The reporting entity should apply the amendments prospectively with earlier application permitted as of the beginning of an interim or annual reporting period. The adoption of ASU 2015 - 11 did not materially impact the Company’s consolidated financial statements. In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016 - 01, “Financial Instruments – Overall: Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities” (“ASU 2016 - 01”). The update addresses certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of financial instruments, specifically equity investments and financial instruments measured at amortized cost. ASU 2016 - 01 is effective for public companies for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Management is currently assessing the impact ASU 2016 - 01 will have, if any, on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016 - 02, “Leases”. The new standard establishes a right-of-use (ROU) model that requires a lessee to record a ROU asset and a lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with terms longer than 12 months. Leases will be classified as either finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the income statement. The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. A modified retrospective transition approach is required for capital and operating leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements, with certain practical expedients available. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of its pending adoption of the new standard on its consolidated financial statements, but expects that it will increase its assets and liabilities. In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014 - 15, “Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity's Ability to Continue as a Going Concern”. Prior to ASU 2014 - 15, a definition for substantial doubt did not exist. However, the new guidance says that substantial doubt exists when relevant conditions and events, considered in the aggregate, indicate that it is probable that the entity will be unable to meet its obligations as they become due within one year after the date that the financial statements are available to be issued. The FASB's definition could be perceived as a higher threshold than current practice as the term “probable” means likely to occur. Under the new standard, management should evaluate all relevant known conditions, or those that can be reasonably expected to happen as of the date the financial statements are to be issued. This evaluation should be both qualitative and quantitative in nature, and should include conditions that might give rise to substantial doubt. ASU 2014 - 15 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years. With the adoption of ASU 2014 - 15 the Company will continue to evaluate all conditions and provide an analysis of conditions that might give rise to substantial doubt for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016 and the subsequent interim periods. In March 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016 - 09, “Compensation – Stock Compensation: Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting” (“ASU 2016 - 09”). ASU 2016 - 09 requires, among other things, that excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies be recognized as income tax expense or benefit in the income statement rather than as additional paid-in capital, changes the classification of excess tax benefits from a financing activity to an operating activity in the statement of cash flows, and allows forfeitures to be accounted for when they occur rather than estimated. ASU 2016 - 09 is effective for public companies for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The adoption did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements. Management does not believe that any other recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting standard if currently adopted would have a material effect on the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
Reclassification, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Reclassification Reclassifications occurred to certain prior year amounts in order to conform to the current year classifications. The reclassifications have no effect on the reported net loss.