Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 21, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017
Adjustment to Deferreds
Entity Registrant Name	CEL SCI CORP
Entity Central Index Key	0000725363
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2017
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--09-30
Is Entity a Well-known Seasoned Issuer?	No
Is Entity a Voluntary Filer?	No
Is Entity's Reporting Status Current?	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		13,206,316
Entity Public Float			$ 17,625,571
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2017