Document and Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Mar. 29, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Document And Entity Information
Entity Registrant Name	Rare Element Resources Ltd
Entity Central Index Key	0001419806
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2015
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Is Entity a Well-known Seasoned Issuer?	No
Is Entity a Voluntary Filer?	No
Is Entity's Reporting Status Current?	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Public Float			$ 21,969,679
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		52,941,880
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2015