Document And Entity Information - shares	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Aug. 21, 2017
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2017
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2017
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Entity Registrant Name	NORTHWEST BIOTHERAPEUTICS INC
Entity Central Index Key	0001072379
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Trading Symbol	NWBO
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		295,253,044