Document and Entity Information - shares	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Aug. 12, 2020
Document And Entity Information
Entity Registrant Name	Rare Element Resources Ltd
Entity Central Index Key	0001419806
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2020
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Is Entity's Reporting Status Current?	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Small Business	true
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	A1
Entity File Number	001-34852
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		104,301,767
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020