Consolidated Statements of Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shares and Shareholder's (Deficit) Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	TRACR Hematology Limited [Member]	Series A-1 Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shares [Member]	Series A-2 Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shares [Member]	Series A-3 Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shares [Member]	Series B Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shares [Member]	Common Shares [Member]	Common Shares [Member] TRACR Hematology Limited [Member]	Treasury Shares [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] TRACR Hematology Limited [Member]	Accumulated Deficit [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Total CRISPR Therapeutics AG Shareholders' (Deficit) Equity [Member]	Total CRISPR Therapeutics AG Shareholders' (Deficit) Equity [Member] TRACR Hematology Limited [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member] TRACR Hematology Limited [Member]
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2013			$ 424
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013			440,001
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2013	$ (581)						$ 98			$ 1,460		$ (2,139)		$ (581)
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013							3,559,985
Receipt of common shares subscription receivable	22						$ 22							22
Issuance of preferred shares net of issuance cost and subscription receivable				$ 5,101
Issuance of preferred shares net of issuance cost and subscription receivable (in shares)				3,120,001
Loss on extinguishment of preferred shares	(745)									(745)				(745)
Loss on extinguishment of preferred shares			$ 745
Equity-based compensation expense	695									453				453		$ 242
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(2)												$ (2)	(2)
Noncontrolling interest upon consolidation		$ 437															$ 437
Net loss	(6,800)											(6,264)		(6,264)		(536)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2014			$ 1,169	$ 5,101
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014			440,001	3,120,001
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2014	(6,974)						$ 120			1,168		(8,403)	(2)	(7,117)		143
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014							3,559,985
Receipt of preferred shares subscription receivable				$ 5,293
Issuance of preferred shares net of issuance cost and subscription receivable					$ 22,518
Issuance of preferred shares net of issuance cost and subscription receivable (in shares)					10,758,006
Adjustment to noncontrolling interest upon share exchange transaction								$ 61			$ 1				$ 62		(62)
Adjustment to noncontrolling interest upon share exchange transaction (in shares)								1,968,094
Issuance of shares, net of issuance cost						$ 30,440
Issuance of shares, net of issuance cost (in shares)						4,519,016
Equity-based compensation expense	3,684									3,467				3,467		217
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(6)												(6)	(6)
Net loss	$ (25,828)											(25,503)		(25,503)		(325)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2015			$ 1,169	$ 10,394	$ 22,518	$ 30,440
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015	18,837,024		440,001	3,120,001	10,758,006	4,519,016
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2015	$ (29,124)						$ 181			4,636		(33,906)	(8)	(29,097)		(27)
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015							5,528,079
Conversion of Convertible Loans						$ 61,929
Conversion of Convertible Loans (in shares)						5,464,608
Conversion of redeemable convertible preferred shares into common share, value	185,565		$ (1,169)	$ (10,394)	$ (45,368)	$ (128,634)	$ 823			184,742				185,565
Conversion of redeemable convertible preferred shares into common share (in shares)			(440,001)	(3,120,001)	(10,758,006)	(12,817,876)	27,135,884
Receipt of preferred shares net of issuance cost and subscription receivable					$ 22,850
Issuance of preferred shares net of issuance cost and subscription receivable						$ 36,265
Issuance of preferred shares net of issuance cost and subscription receivable (in shares)						2,834,252
Adjustment to noncontrolling interest upon share exchange transaction								$ 10			$ (62)				$ (52)		$ 52
Adjustment to noncontrolling interest upon share exchange transaction (in shares)								328,017
Issuance of shares, net of issuance cost	88,664						$ 213			88,451				88,664
Issuance of shares, net of issuance cost (in shares)							7,100,000
Repurchase of treasury shares, value							$ (13)			13
Repurchase of treasury shares (in shares)							(444,873)		444,873
Vesting of restricted shares, value	83						$ 2			81				83
Vesting of restricted shares (in shares)							53,427
Exercised of vested options, value	35						$ 1			34				35
Exercised of vested options(in shares)							18,900
Equity-based compensation expense	10,844									10,844				10,844
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(18)												(18)	(18)
Net loss	(23,202)											(23,177)		(23,177)		$ (25)
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016			0	0	0	0
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 232,846						$ 1,216			$ 288,427		$ (56,771)	$ (26)	$ 232,846
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016							39,719,434		444,873