Document and Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Nov. 07, 2017
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2017
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2017
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Trading Symbol	PIRS
Entity Registrant Name	PIERIS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
Entity Central Index Key	0001583648
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		44,794,308