Consolidated Statements of Equity (USD $)	Total	Series B Preferred Stock [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Accumulated Deficit [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Total NeoStem, Inc. Shareholders' Equity [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 80,132,518	$ 100	$ 10,933	$ 200,957,035	$ 4,152,343	$ (143,094,854)	$ 0	$ 62,025,557	$ 18,106,961
Beginning Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2011		10,000	10,932,959
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net loss	(51,025,744)					(38,264,381)		(38,264,381)	(12,761,363)
Foreign currency translation	147,301				(3,576)			(3,576)	150,877
Share-based compensation (in shares)			263,403
Share-based compensation	5,471,166		263	5,470,903				5,471,166
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock (in shares)			2,876,561
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock	12,160,227		2,878	12,157,349				12,160,227
Proceeds from Stock Options Exercised	0
Proceeds from warrant exercise (in shares)			1,016,052
Proceeds from exercise of warrants	5,925,931		1,016	5,924,915				5,925,931
Warrant Inducements (in shares)			145,895
Warrant Inducements	(1,012,819)		146	(43,862)				(43,716)
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Warrant Issued	(43,716)
Repayment of Series E Preferred Principal and Dividends (in shares)			279,238
Repayment of Series E Preferred Principal and Dividends	938,785		279	1,201,938		(263,432)		938,785
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2012	53,706,468	100	15,515	225,668,278	4,148,767	(181,622,667)	0	48,209,993	5,496,475
Ending Balance (shares) at Sep. 30, 2012		10,000	15,514,108
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	32,820,159	100	16,375	231,218,615	0	(197,392,361)	(665,600)	33,177,129	(356,970)
Beginning Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2012		10,000	16,375,365
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net loss	(26,766,572)					(26,446,692)		(26,446,692)	(319,880)
Share-based compensation (in shares)			451,666
Share-based compensation	5,412,451		452	5,441,166			(29,167)	5,412,451
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock (in shares)			3,949,255
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock	21,517,422		3,949	21,513,473				21,517,422
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period			16,369
Proceeds from Stock Options Exercised	86,658		16	86,642				86,658
Proceeds from warrant exercise (in shares)			401,215
Proceeds from exercise of warrants	2,126,291		402	2,125,889				2,126,291
Warrant Inducements (in shares)			0
Warrant Inducements	0		0
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Warrant Inducements	(62,014)			(62,014)				(62,014)
Change in Ownership in Subsidiary	0		0	(111,680)				(111,680)	111,680
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2013	$ 35,134,395	$ 100	$ 21,194	$ 260,212,091	$ 0	$ (223,839,053)	$ (694,767)	$ 35,699,565	$ (565,170)
Ending Balance (shares) at Sep. 30, 2013		10,000	21,193,870