Document and Entity Information Document	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Nov. 13, 2012
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	NeoStem, Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	0000320017
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2012
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		159,414,582