Document And Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Nov. 02, 2020
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2020
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-34899
Entity Registrant Name	Pulse Biosciences, Inc.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	46-5696597
Entity Address, Address Line One	3957 Point Eden Way
Entity Address, City or Town	Hayward
Entity Address, State or Province	CA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	94545
City Area Code	510
Local Phone Number	906-4600
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share
Trading Symbol	PLSE
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	true
Entity Emerging Growth Company	true
Entity Ex Transition Period	true
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		25,341,540
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Entity Central Index Key	0001625101
Amendment Flag	false