Cover - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Nov. 01, 2019
Cover page.
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2019
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	000-30171
Entity Registrant Name	SANGAMO THERAPEUTICS, INC
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	68-0359556
Entity Address, Address Line One	501 Canal Boulevard
Entity Address, City or Town	Richmond
Entity Address, State or Province	CA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	94804
City Area Code	510
Local Phone Number	970-6000
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
Trading Symbol	SGMO
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		115,937,618
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Entity Central Index Key	0001001233
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31