Quarterly Financial Data (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 5,276	$ 4,118	$ 4,489	$ 4,056	$ 4,078	$ 3,707	$ 4,359	$ 2,524	$ 17,938,790	$ 14,668,455	$ 14,329,889
Operating Costs and Expenses	20,830	20,376	16,919	17,555	14,573	13,020	12,530	11,355
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest	(11,691)	(17,177)	(12,769)	(13,830)	(12,719)	(9,277)	(8,626)	(8,864)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	$ (11,612)	$ (16,974)	$ (12,605)	$ (13,682)	$ (12,535)	$ (9,071)	$ (8,575)	$ (8,801)	$ (54,872,933)	$ (38,981,244)	$ (53,769,484)
NeoStem, Inc. common stockholders	$ (0.32)	$ (0.48)	$ (0.40)	$ (0.49)	$ (0.47)	$ (0.45)	$ (0.46)	$ (0.53)	$ (1.68)	$ (1.90)	$ (4.00)