The Business - Principles of Consolidation(Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Subsidiary or Equity Method Investee [Line Items]
Change in Ownership in Subsidiary	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
NeoStem, Inc. [Member]
Subsidiary or Equity Method Investee [Line Items]
Subsidiary, Ownership Interest by Parent	100.00%
Athelos Corporation [Member] | Becton Dickson [Member]
Subsidiary or Equity Method Investee [Line Items]
Noncontrolling Interest in Variable Interest Entity	$ 0.028
Location [Member] | NeoStem, Inc. [Member]
Subsidiary or Equity Method Investee [Line Items]
Entity Location	United States of America
Location [Member] | NeoStem Therapies, Inc [Member]
Subsidiary or Equity Method Investee [Line Items]
Entity Location	United States of America
Location [Member] | Stem Cell Technologies, Inc [Member]
Subsidiary or Equity Method Investee [Line Items]
Entity Location	United States of America
Location [Member] | Amorcyte, LLC [Member]
Subsidiary or Equity Method Investee [Line Items]
Entity Location	United States of America
Location [Member] | Progenitor Cell Therapy, LLC [Member]
Subsidiary or Equity Method Investee [Line Items]
Entity Location	United States of America
Location [Member] | NeoStem Family Storage, LLC [Member]
Subsidiary or Equity Method Investee [Line Items]
Entity Location	United States of America
Location [Member] | Athelos Corporation [Member]
Subsidiary or Equity Method Investee [Line Items]
Entity Location	United States of America
Location [Member] | PCT Allendale, LLC [Member]
Subsidiary or Equity Method Investee [Line Items]
Entity Location	United States of America
UNITED STATES | NeoStem Therapies, Inc [Member]
Subsidiary or Equity Method Investee [Line Items]
Subsidiary, Ownership Interest by Parent	100.00%
UNITED STATES | Stem Cell Technologies, Inc [Member]
Subsidiary or Equity Method Investee [Line Items]
Subsidiary, Ownership Interest by Parent	100.00%
UNITED STATES | Amorcyte, LLC [Member]
Subsidiary or Equity Method Investee [Line Items]
Subsidiary, Ownership Interest by Parent	100.00%
UNITED STATES | Progenitor Cell Therapy, LLC [Member]
Subsidiary or Equity Method Investee [Line Items]
Subsidiary, Ownership Interest by Parent	100.00%
UNITED STATES | NeoStem Family Storage, LLC [Member]
Subsidiary or Equity Method Investee [Line Items]
Subsidiary, Ownership Interest by Parent	100.00%
UNITED STATES | Athelos Corporation [Member]
Subsidiary or Equity Method Investee [Line Items]
Subsidiary, Ownership Interest by Parent	97.00%
UNITED STATES | PCT Allendale, LLC [Member]
Subsidiary or Equity Method Investee [Line Items]
Subsidiary, Ownership Interest by Parent	100.00%
UNITED STATES | NeoStem Oncology [Member]
Subsidiary or Equity Method Investee [Line Items]
Subsidiary, Ownership Interest by Parent	100.00%
Entity Location	United States of America