Cover - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Dec. 15, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020
Cover [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	CEL-SCI CORPORATION
Entity Central Index Key	0000725363
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--09-30
Entity Well Known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Small Business	true
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2020
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Entity Common Stock Shares Outstanding		39,756,417
Entity Public Float			$ 411,591,295
Document Annual Report	true
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-11889
Entity Incorporation State Country Code	CO
Entity Tax Identification Number	84-0916344
Entity Address Address Line 1	8229 Boone Blvd.,
Entity Address Address Line 2	Suite 802
Entity Address City Or Town	Vienna
Entity Address State Or Province	VA
Entity Address Postal Zip Code	22182
City Area Code	703
Local Phone Number	506-9460
Security 12b Title	Common Stock
Trading Symbol	CVM
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes