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, 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	(8,864,329)					(8,800,575)		(8,800,575)	(63,754)
Share-based compensation (in shares)			177,492
Share-based compensation	2,218,530		178	2,218,352				2,218,530
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock (in shares)			454,254
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock	2,730,263		455	2,729,808				2,730,263
Proceeds from Stock Options Exercised	0
Proceeds from warrant exercise (in shares)			20,761
Proceeds from exercise of warrants	105,881		21	105,860				105,881
Warrant Inducements (in shares)			0
Warrant Inducements			0	(6,239)				(6,239)
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Warrant Issued	(6,239)
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2013	29,004,265	100	17,029	236,266,396	0	(206,192,936)	(665,600)	29,424,989	(420,724)
Ending Balance (shares) at Mar. 31, 2013		10,000	17,027,872
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	62,026,435	100	27,197	299,594,525	0	(236,373,605)	(705,742)	62,542,475	(516,040)
Beginning Balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2013		10,000	27,196,537
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net loss	(13,830,084)					(13,682,057)		(13,682,057)	(148,027)
Share-based compensation (in shares)			329,698
Share-based compensation	3,893,616		330	3,893,286			0	3,893,616
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock (in shares)			804,375
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock	5,630,625		804	5,629,821				5,630,625
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period			12,800
Proceeds from Stock Options Exercised	71,360		13	71,347				71,360
Proceeds from warrant exercise (in shares)			250,000
Proceeds from exercise of warrants	1,275,000		250	1,274,750				1,275,000
Change in Ownership in Subsidiary	0		0	(86,617)				(86,617)	86,617
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2014	$ 59,066,952	$ 100	$ 28,594	$ 310,377,112	$ 0	$ (250,055,662)	$ (705,742)	$ 59,644,402	$ (577,450)
Ending Balance (shares) at Mar. 31, 2014		10,000	28,593,410