Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Revenues:
Revenues	$ 84,452	$ 36,567	$ 19,389
Operating expenses:
Research and development	114,866	65,728	65,618
General and administrative	46,736	27,200	26,330
Total operating expenses	161,602	92,928	91,948
Loss from operations	(77,150)	(56,361)	(72,559)
Interest and other income, net	8,261	1,793	887
Loss before income taxes	(68,889)	(54,568)	(71,672)
Benefit from income taxes			14
Net loss	(68,889)	(54,568)	(71,658)
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest	(555)
Net loss attributable to Sangamo Therapeutics, Inc. stockholders	$ (68,334)	$ (54,568)	$ (71,658)
Basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to Sangamo Therapeutics, Inc. stockholders	$ (0.70)	$ (0.70)	$ (1.02)
Shares used in computing basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to Sangamo Therapeutics, Inc. stockholders	96,941	78,084	70,553
Collaboration Agreements [Member]
Revenues:
Revenues	$ 84,065	$ 35,960	$ 18,881
Research Grants [Member]
Revenues:
Revenues	$ 387	$ 607	$ 508