Common Stock (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	0 Months Ended		9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		33 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	0 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			12 Months Ended	0 Months Ended			12 Months Ended	0 Months Ended
	Aug. 13, 2012 item	Mar. 28, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 28, 2012 Common stock	Dec. 31, 2013 Common stock	Dec. 31, 2012 Common stock	Dec. 31, 2013 Common stock Intrexon Inc.	Sep. 13, 2012 Issuance under private placement Common stock	Aug. 13, 2012 Issuance under private placement Common stock	Mar. 31, 2013 Issuance under private placement Common stock	Dec. 31, 2013 Series A Preferred Stock	Dec. 31, 2012 Series A Preferred Stock	Jul. 31, 2011 Series A Preferred Stock	Dec. 31, 2012 Series A Preferred Stock Common stock	Aug. 13, 2012 Series A Preferred Stock Issuance under private placement	Aug. 13, 2012 Series A Preferred Stock Issuance under private placement Common stock	Mar. 29, 2012 Series B Preferred Stock	Dec. 31, 2012 Series B Preferred Stock Common stock	Aug. 13, 2012 Series B Preferred Stock Issuance under private placement	Aug. 13, 2012 Series B Preferred Stock Issuance under private placement Common stock
Common stock
Reverse stock split conversion ratio		2.023					2.023
Common stock issued in a private placement (in shares)								3,888,880	897,554			897,554	3,888,880
Common stock issue price (in dollars per share)										$ 9.15		$ 5.50	$ 9.00			$ 1.00				$ 5.50
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock			$ 2	$ 32,414	$ 4,039	$ 36,455						$ 4,000	$ 32,700
Preferred stock conversion ratio														2.023	2.023			2.023	2.023			1	1
Number of shares of common stock in which preferred stock is convertible																	(3,064,753)	3,064,753	3,064,753		(6,770,563)	6,770,563	6,770,563
Number of classes of board of directors	3
Staggered term of board of directors	3 years
Percentage of the shares of capital stock, whose holders' affirmative vote is required to remove directors	75.00%
Number of common shares to be included in the Resale S-1											7,630,683	897,554											6,770,563
Common stock issued in conjunction with a research and development agreement (in shares)								273,224		273,224
Outstanding stock options (in shares)								2,413,237	1,218,153
Outstanding restricted stock units (in shares)								96,155	192,308