Document and Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Nov. 03, 2023
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Transition Report	false
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2023
Securities Act File Number	001-38944
Entity Registrant Name	Akero Therapeutics, Inc.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	81-5266573
Entity Address, Address Line One	601 Gateway Boulevard, Suite 350
Entity Address, City or Town	South San Francisco
Entity Address, State or Province	CA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	94080
City Area Code	650
Local Phone Number	487-6488
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share
Trading Symbol	AKRO
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	true
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		55,709,783
Entity Central Index Key	0001744659
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2023
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Amendment Flag	false