Consolidated Statements of Equity (USD $)	Total	Convertible 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]	Non-Controlling Interest in Subsidiary [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 (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011		10,000	10,932,959
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net loss	(66,369,311)					(53,769,484)		(53,769,484)	(12,599,827)
Foreign currency translation	385,905				235,028			235,028	150,877
Share-based compensation (in shares)			336,427
Share-based compensation	6,712,536		336	6,712,200				6,712,536
Proceeds from issuance of common stock (in shares)			3,573,229
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	16,428,827		3,573	16,425,254				16,428,827
Net proceeds from exercise of options	0
Proceeds from warrant exercises (in shares)			1,107,618
Proceeds from warrant exercises	6,604,419		1,108	6,603,311				6,604,419
Shares, options and warrants received in Erye Sale	(1,117,901)			(452,301)			(665,600)	(1,117,901)
Elimination of Equity upon Erye Sale	(10,402,352)			0	(4,387,371)			(4,387,371)	(6,014,981)
Repayment of Series E Preferred Principal and Dividends (in shares)			279,238
Repayment of Series E Preferred Principal and Dividends	674,194		279	1,201,938		528,023		674,194
Warrant inducements	41,969		145,895
Warrant inducements	(228,676)		(146)	(228,822)				(228,676)
Ending 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)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012		10,000	16,375,365
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net loss	(39,485,334)					(38,981,244)		(38,981,244)	(504,090)
Share-based compensation (in shares)			513,912
Share-based compensation	6,838,559		514	6,878,187			40,142	6,838,559
Proceeds from issuance of common stock (in shares)			9,712,724
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	58,736,166		9,713	58,726,453				58,736,166
Proceeds from option exercises, shares			31,369
Net proceeds from exercise of options	150,658		31	150,627				150,658
Proceeds from warrant exercises (in shares)			563,167
Proceeds from warrant exercises	3,028,241		564	3,027,677				3,028,241
Warrant inducements	40,407		0
Warrant inducements	(62,014)		0	(62,014)				(62,014)
Change in Ownership in Subsidiary				(345,020)				(345,020)	345,020
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 62,026,435		$ 27,197	$ 299,594,525	$ 0	$ (236,373,605)	$ (705,742)	$ 62,542,475	$ (516,040)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013		10,000	27,196,537