The Business Principal of consolidation (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012
NeoStem Therapies, Inc [Member] | UNITED STATES
Schedule of Subisidiary [Line Items]
Subsidiary, Ownership Interest by Parent	100.00%
Stem Cell Technologies, Inc [Member] | UNITED STATES
Schedule of Subisidiary [Line Items]
Subsidiary, Ownership Interest by Parent	100.00%
Amorcyte, LLC [Member] | UNITED STATES
Schedule of Subisidiary [Line Items]
Subsidiary, Ownership Interest by Parent	100.00%
CBH Acquisition LLC [Member] | UNITED STATES
Schedule of Subisidiary [Line Items]
Subsidiary, Ownership Interest by Parent	100.00%
China Biopharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc. [Member] | UNITED STATES
Schedule of Subisidiary [Line Items]
Subsidiary of Limited Liability Company or Limited Partnership, Ownership Interest	100.00%
Suzhou Erye Pharmaceuticals Company Ltd. [Member] | CHINA
Schedule of Subisidiary [Line Items]
Subsidiary of Limited Liability Company or Limited Partnership, Ownership Interest	51.00%	[1]
Progenitor Cell Therapy, LLC [Member] | UNITED STATES
Schedule of Subisidiary [Line Items]
Subsidiary, Ownership Interest by Parent	100.00%
NeoStem Family Storage, LLC [Member] | UNITED STATES
Schedule of Subisidiary [Line Items]
Subsidiary of Limited Liability Company or Limited Partnership, Ownership Interest	100.00%
Athelos Corporation [Member] | UNITED STATES
Schedule of Subisidiary [Line Items]
Subsidiary of Limited Liability Company or Limited Partnership, Ownership Interest	80.10%
PCT Allendale, LLC [Member] | UNITED STATES
Schedule of Subisidiary [Line Items]
Subsidiary of Limited Liability Company or Limited Partnership, Ownership Interest	100.00%

[1] Represents the operations of our former Pharmaceutical Manufacturing - China reporting segment, which was discontinued on June 18, 2012, and is currently reported in discontinued operations. The Erye divestiture closed on November 13, 2012 (see Note 16).