| Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies) | 12 Months Ended |
| Dec. 31, 2018 |
| Accounting Policies [Abstract] | |
| Operations | Operations Vuzix Corporation (the Company) was formed in 1997 under the laws of the State of Delaware and maintains its corporate offices in Rochester, New York. We are engaged in the design, manufacture, marketing and sale of augmented reality wearable display devices also referred to as head mounted displays (or HMDs, but also known as Video Eyewear or near-eye displays), in the form of Smart Glasses and Augmented Reality (AR) glasses. Our AR wearable display devices are worn like eyeglasses or attach to a head worn mount. These devices typically include cameras, sensors, and a computer that enable the user to view, record and interact with video and digital content, such as computer data, the Internet, social media or entertainment applications. Our wearable display products integrate micro-display technology with our advanced optics to produce compact high-resolution display engines, less than half an inch diagonally, which when viewed through our smart glasses products create virtual images that appear comparable in size to that of a computer monitor or a large-screen television. The wearable display products we produce can be used for a variety of enterprise and commercial users and applications, including AR for on-the-go users and as mobile displays for entertainment and social media use. Our products are available with varying features and are offered as monocular display systems. |
| Principles of Consolidation | Principles of Consolidation The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Vuzix Europe . All significant inter-company transactions have been eliminated. Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to be consistent with current year presentation. |
| Segment Data, Geographic Information and Significant Customers | Segment Data, Geographic Information and Significant Customers The Company is not organized by market and is managed and operated as one business. A single management team that reports to the chief operating decision maker comprehensively manages the entire business. The Company does not operate any material separate lines of business or separate business entities. Accordingly, the Company does not accumulate discrete information, other than product revenue and material costs, with respect to separate product lines and does not have separately reportable segments as defined by FASB ASC Topic 280 , “Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information”. Refer to Note 20 — Geographic and Other Financial Information. |
| Foreign Currency Transactions | Foreign Currency Transactions The Company considers the US dollar as the functional currency of the Company’s UK Subsidiary. The Company’s UK Subsidiary transacts in Euros and British pounds. All transactions in foreign currencies are recorded in US dollars at the then current exchange rate(s). Upon settlement of the underlying transaction, all amounts are re-measured to US dollars at the current exchange rate on date of settlement. All unsettled foreign currency transactions that remain in accounts receivable and trade account payables are re-measured to US dollars at the period end exchange rates. All re-measurement gains and losses are recorded in the current period net income. |
| Use of Estimates | Use of Estimates The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at year-end and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. |
| Concentration of Credit Risk | Concentration of Credit Risk The Company maintains its cash in bank deposit accounts, which at times may exceed federally insured limits. |
| Cash and Cash Equivalents | Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash and cash equivalents can include highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less. |
| Fair Value of Financial Instruments | Fair Value The Company’s financial instruments primarily consists of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, customer deposits, accrued expenses, and income taxes payable. As of the consolidated balance sheet dates, the estimated fair values of the financial instruments were not materially different from their carrying values as presented due to both the short maturities of these instruments. |
| Accounts Receivable | Accounts Receivable The Company carries its trade accounts receivable at invoice amount less an allowance for doubtful accounts. The Company establishes an allowance for uncollectible trade accounts receivable based on the age of outstanding invoices and management’s evaluation of collectability of outstanding balances. These provisions are established when the aging of outstanding amounts exceeds allowable terms and are re-evaluated at each quarter end for adequacy. In determining the adequacy of the provision, the Company considers known uncollectible or at-risk receivables. The allowance for doubtful accounts as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 was $ 7,280 and $29,960 , |
| Customer Concentrations | Customer Concentrations Toshiba Client Solutions Co. Ltd. (Toshiba) of Japan, SATS Airport Services Pte Ltd and AMA SA represented 17%, 10% and 10% of our total revenues in 2018, respectively. Toshiba represented 18% of our total revenue in 2017. No single customer represented more that 10% of revenues in 2016. Toshiba and SATS represented 32% and 38%, respectively, of accounts receivable at December 31, 2018. Toshiba represented 25% of accounts receivable and 100% of accrued project revenues at December 31, 2017. No single customer represented more than 10% of accounts receivable at December 31, 2016. |
| Accrued Project Revenue | Accrued Project Revenue The Company carries accrued project revenue based on the percentage of completion on the project measured using the input method based upon costs incurred to-date as a percentage of total expected costs to complete the project . |
| Inventories | Inventories Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value using the weighted average first-in, first-out method. The Company includes labor and overhead costs in its inventory valuation costing. The Company records provisions for excess, obsolete or slow-moving inventory based on changes in customer demand, technology developments or other economic factors. The Company’s products have product life cycles that range on average from two to three years currently. At both the product introduction and product discontinuation stage, there is a higher degree of risk of inventory obsolescence. The provision for obsolete and excess inventory is evaluated for adequacy at each quarter end. The estimate of the provision for obsolete and excess inventory is partially based on expected future product sales, which are difficult to forecast for certain products. |
| Revenue Recognition | Revenue Recognition The Company adopted the new guidance on Revenue from Contracts with Customers under Topic 606 as of January 1, 2018 . Refer to Note 2 for further discussion on the impact of this adoption. Product sales represent the majority of the Company’s revenue. The Company recognizes revenue from these product sales as performance obligations are satisfied and transfer of control and ownership to the customer has occurred, typically upon physical shipment. Revenue is recognized in the amount that the Company expects to receive in exchange from the sale of our products. FOB shipping point is our standard shipping terms and revenue is recognized as our products ship to customers, as control and ownership are transferred at this point in time. All of our standard products sales include a 30 -day money back guarantee and expected returns are estimated at each reporting period date and a portion of revenue is deferred for all estimated returns. As of December 31, 2018 , deferred revenue associated with our expected returns was immaterial. The Company collects and remits sales taxes in certain jurisdictions and reports revenue net of any associated sales taxes. Revenue from any engineering consulting and other services is recognized at the time the services are rendered. The Company accounts for its longer-term development contracts, which to date have all been firm fixed-priced contracts, on the percentage-of-completion method, whereby income is recognized as work on contracts progresses, but estimated losses on contracts in progress are charged to operations immediately. The percentage-of-completion is determined using the cost-to-cost method. To date, all such contracts have been less than one calendar year in duration. |
| Unearned Revenue | Unearned Revenue These amounts represent deferred revenue against unfulfilled performance obligations such as extended product warranty sales and sales of our Vuzix Basic Video applications, which are amortized over a twelve (12) month period. |
| Customer Deposits | Customer Deposits Customer deposits represent money the Company has received in advance of providing a product or engineering services to a customer. All such deposits are short term in nature as the Company delivers the product, unfulfilled portions or engineering services to the customer before the end of its next annual fiscal period. These deposits are credited to the customer against product deliveries or at the completion of the customer’s order. |
| Cost of Product Revenues | Cost of Product Revenues Cost of product revenue includes the direct and allocated indirect costs of products sold to customers. Direct costs include labor, materials, reserves for estimated warranty expenses, and other costs incurred directly, or charged to us by our contract manufacturers in the manufacture of these products. Indirect costs include labor, manufacturing overhead, and other costs associated with operating our manufacturing facility and capacity. Manufacturing overhead includes the costs of procuring, inspecting and storing material, facility and other costs, and is allocated to cost of product revenue based on the proportion of indirect labor which supported production activities. Depreciation on manufacturing tools and equipment is included in Operating Expenses in our consolidated statement of operations. The cost of product revenue can fluctuate significantly from period to period, depending on the product mix and volume, the level of manufacturing overhead expense and the volume of direct material purchased. |
| Cost of Engineering Services Revenues | Cost of Engineering Services Revenues Cost of engineering services revenues includes both the direct and allocated indirect costs of performing on contracts and producing prototype units. Direct costs include labor, materials and other costs incurred directly in performing the contract. Direct costs also include labor and other costs associated with operating our research and development department based on the level of effort supporting the development activity. Cost of contract revenue is determined by the level of direct and indirect costs incurred, which can fluctuate substantially from period to period. |
| Fixed Assets | Fixed Assets Fixed assets are stated at cost. Depreciation of fixed assets is provided for using the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives: Computers and Purchased Software 3 years Leasehold Improvements Lesser of expected life or lease term Manufacturing Equipment 5 years Tooling 3 years Furniture and Equipment 5 years Repairs and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred. Asset betterments are capitalized and depreciated over their expected useful life. |
| Patents and Trademarks | Patents and Trademarks The Company capitalizes the costs of obtaining its patents and registration of trademarks. Such costs are accumulated and capitalized during the filing periods, which can take several years to complete. Successful applications that result in the granting of a patent or trademark are then amortized over 15 years on a straight-line basis. Unsuccessful applications are written off and expensed in the fiscal period where the application is abandoned or discontinued. |
| Software Development Costs | Software Development Costs The Company capitalizes the costs of obtaining or developing its software once technological feasibility has been determined by management. Such costs are accumulated and capitalized. Projects can take several years to complete. Unsuccessful or discontinued software projects are written off and expensed in the fiscal period when the software development effort is abandoned or discontinued. Costs incurred internally in researching and developing a computer software product are charged to expense until technological feasibility has been established for the product. Once technological feasibility is established, all software costs are capitalized until the product is available for general release to customers. Judgment is required in determining when technological feasibility of a product is established. Once the product is available for general release, accumulated costs are amortized over the life of the asset. The amortization of these costs is included in cost of revenue over the estimated life of the products, which currently is estimated as three years using a straight-line basis. |
| Licenses | Licenses The Company capitalizes the costs of acquiring licenses and prepaid royalties. They are amortized on either a per unit basis or straight line over the life of the license. In some cases, future royalties are subject to annual limits. |
| Long-Lived Assets | Long-Lived Assets The Company at least annually assesses all of its long-lived assets for impairment when events or circumstances indicate their carrying amounts may not be recoverable, in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 360 - 10 , “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets.” There was no impairment charge in 2018 and 2017 . In 2016 , an impairment charge of $20,506 was recorded related to abandoned patents and trademarks. |
| Research and Development | Research and Development Research and development costs are expensed as incurred consistent with the guidance of FASB ASC Topic 730 , “Research and Development,” and include employee related costs, office expenses, third-party design and engineering services, and new product prototyping costs. Costs incurred internally in researching and developing a computer software product are charged to expense until technological feasibility has been established for the product. |
| Shipping and Handling Costs | Shipping and Handling Costs Amounts charged to customers and costs incurred by the Company related to shipping and handling are included in net sales and cost of sales, respectively. |
| Provision for Future Warranty Costs | Provision for Future Warranty Costs The Company provides for the estimated returns under warranty and the costs of fulfilling our obligations under product warranties at the time the related revenue is recognized. The Company estimates the costs based on historical and projected product failure rates, historical and projected repair costs, and knowledge of specific product failures (if any). The specific warranty terms and conditions vary depending upon the country in which we do business, but generally include parts and labor over a period generally ranging from one to two years from the date of product shipment. The Company provides a reserve for expected future warranty returns at the time of product shipment or produces over-builds to cover replacements. We regularly reevaluate our estimates to assess the adequacy of the recorded warranty liabilities and adjust the amounts as necessary each quarter end, based on historical experience of warranty claims and costs. |
| Advertising | Advertising Advertising costs are expensed as incurred and recorded in “Selling and Marketing” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Advertising expense for the years ended December 31, 2018 , 2017 and 2016 amounted to $1,631,161 , $1,386,977 and $1,279,998 , respectively. |
| Income Taxes | Income Taxes The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 740 - 10 , “Income Taxes.” Accordingly, the Company provides deferred income tax assets and liabilities based on the estimated future tax effects of differences between the financial and tax bases of assets and liabilities based on currently enacted tax laws. A valuation allowance is established for deferred tax assets in amounts for which realization is not considered more likely than not to occur. The Company reports any interest and penalties accrued relating to uncertain income tax positions as a component of the income tax provision. |
| Net Loss Per Share | Net Loss Per Share Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing the net income (loss) less accrued dividends on any outstanding preferred stock by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per share calculations reflect the assumed exercise of all dilutive employee stock options and warrants applying the treasury stock method promulgated by FASB ASC Topic 260 , “Earnings Per Share” and the conversion of any outstanding convertible preferred shares or notes payable that are-in-the-money, applying the as-if-converted method. However, if the assumed exercise of stock options and warrants and the conversion of any preferred shares or convertible notes payable are anti-dilutive, basic and diluted earnings per share are the same for all periods. As a result of the net losses generated in 2018 , 2017 and 2016 , all outstanding instruments would be antidilutive . As of December 31, 2018 , 2017 and 2016 , there were 8,742,183 , 7,657,756 and 7,227,738 |
| Stock-Based Compensation Expense | Stock-Based Compensation Expense The Company accounts for stock-based compensation to employees and directors in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718 “Compensation Stock Expense,” which requires that compensation expense be recognized in the consolidated financial statements for stock-based awards based on the grant date fair value. The Company uses the fair market value of our common stock on the date of each stock-based award based on the market price of the Company’s common shares and the expense related to these awards is recognized over the requisite service period of the awards on a straight-line or graded vesting basis, which is generally commensurate with the vesting term. Stock-based compensation expense associated with stock awards and stock option grants for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016 was $2,197,481, $1,623,272 and $902,978, respectively. The Company issues new shares upon stock option exercises. |
| Derivative Liability and Fair Value Measurements | Derivative Liability and Fair Value Measurements FASB ASC Topic 820 , “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures” defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. ASC 820 clarifies that fair value is an exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. ASC 820 permits an entity to measure certain financial assets and financial liabilities at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in earnings each period. In accordance with ASC 815 - 10 - 25 Derivatives and Hedging, we measured the derivative liabilities using a Monte Carlo Options Lattice pricing model at their issuance date and at each subsequent reporting date. Accordingly, at the end of each quarterly reporting date, the derivative fair market value is re-measured and adjusted to current market value. Derivatives that have more than one year remaining in their life are shown as long term. Significant unobservable inputs are used in the fair value measurement of the Company’s derivative liability. The primary input factors driving the economic or fair value of the derivative liabilities related to the warrants and convertible notes are the stock price of the Company’s shares, the price volatility of the shares, reset events, and exercise behavior. An important valuation input factor used in determining fair value was the expected volatility of observed share prices and the probability of projected resets in warrant exercise and note conversion prices from financing events before each security’s maturity. For exercise behavior, the Company assumed that without a target price of two times the projected reset price or higher, the holders of the warrants and convertible notes would hold to maturity. In determining the fair value of the derivative it was assumed that the Company’s business would be conducted as a going concern and that holding to maturity was reasonable. Further, the January 2, 2015 Series A Preferred financing reduced the expected probability to near zero for price resets from financing events. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. ASC Topic 820 establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (level 3 measurements). These tiers include: o Level 1, defined as observable inputs such as quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets; o Level 2, defined as inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable such as quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets or quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and o Level 3, defined as unobservable inputs in which little or no market data exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions, such as valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable. |
| Recent Accounting Pronouncements | Recent Accounting Pronouncements In July 2017 , the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2017 - 11 , Earnings Per Share (Topic 260) , Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity (Topic 480) , Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815) . This ASU requires that when determining whether certain financial instruments should be classified as liabilities or equity instruments, an entity should not consider the down round feature. The provisions of the ASU related to down rounds are effective for public business entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018 . We do not expect the implementation of this standard to have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). ASU 2016-02 requires lessees to recognize a right-of-use asset and lease liability in the balance sheet for all leases, including operating leases, with terms of more than twelve months. The amendments also require qualitative disclosures along with specific quantitative disclosures. The new guidance will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those years, with early adoption permitted. The amendments must be applied on a modified retrospective basis. We anticipate the adoption of this standard will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. Upon adoption, we will record a right-to-use asset and a lease liability on our balance sheet of approximately $1,000,000, representing the net present value of the obligation for our office leases. |
