Note 15 - Stock Plans (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Thousands			6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 02, 2020	Oct. 15, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Nonvested Award, Cost Not yet Recognized, Amount, Total					$ 467	$ 329
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Expense, Tax Benefit					$ 33	$ 68
Incentive and Non-Qualified Stock Options [Member]
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Amount Capitalized		$ 0
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Rights, Percentage	20.00%	20.00%
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period (in shares)				14,500	14,500	0	401,111
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period (Year)			5 years
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Vested or Cancelled (in shares)							334,799
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Amount Capitalized	$ 0						$ 0
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Expense					$ 65	$ 167
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Nonvested Award, Cost Not yet Recognized, Amount, Total					115	48
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period (Year)							1 year
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period (Year)							5 years
Incentive Stock Options [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Gross (in shares)	34,500	29,460
Non-Qualified Stock Options [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Gross (in shares)	30,000	20,540
Incentive and Non-Qualified Stock Options [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period (Year)	5 years	5 years
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Expense					$ 143	$ 87
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Gross (in shares)					64,500

OTELCO INC. 10-K