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Note 9 - Stock-based Compensation (Details Textual) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Common Stock, Capital Shares Reserved for Future Issuance (in shares)	8,929,790
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number, Ending Balance (in shares)	10,790
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Available for Grant (in shares)	2,463,636	2,137,499	1,744,811
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Expense	$ 1,287,000	$ 1,205,000
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
Common Stock, Capital Shares Reserved for Future Issuance (in shares)	10,790
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number, Ending Balance (in shares)		11,500	0
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Nonvested Award, Cost Not yet Recognized, Amount, Total	$ 17,000
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Nonvested Award, Cost Not yet Recognized, Period for Recognition (Year)	4 months 24 days
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Expense	$ 106,000
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Option [Member]
Common Stock, Capital Shares Reserved for Future Issuance (in shares)	2,463,636
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Nonvested Award, Cost Not yet Recognized, Amount, Total	$ 1,700,000
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Nonvested Award, Cost Not yet Recognized, Period for Recognition (Year)	2 years 2 months 12 days
Non-Employee Stock Option [Member]
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Expense	$ 222,000	$ 261,000
Panbela Therapeutics, Inc. 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Expiration Period (Year)	10 years
Common Stock, Capital Shares Reserved for Future Issuance (in shares)	3,618,579
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Number, Ending Balance (in shares)	2,239,636
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Available for Grant (in shares)	1,345,863
Panbela Therapeutics, Inc. 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan [Member] \| Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number, Ending Balance (in shares)	10,790
Panbela Therapeutics, Inc. 2011 Stock Option Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Expiration Period (Year)	10 years
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Number, Ending Balance (in shares)	224,000
Panbela Therapeutics, Inc. 2011 Stock Option Plan [Member] \| Share-based Payment Arrangement, Option [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period (Year)	0 years
Panbela Therapeutics, Inc. 2011 Stock Option Plan [Member] \| Share-based Payment Arrangement, Option [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period (Year)	2 years