Document and Entity Information - shares	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Aug. 08, 2017
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2017
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2017
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Trading Symbol	AQXP
Entity Registrant Name	AQUINOX PHARMACEUTICALS, INC
Entity Central Index Key	0001404644
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		23,464,712