Note 2 - Fair Value Measurement (Details Textual)	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2020
Minimum [Member] \| Measurement Input, Price Volatility [Member]
Warrants and Rights Outstanding, Measurement Input	0.739
Maximum [Member]
Warrants and Rights Outstanding, Term (Year)	1 year
Maximum [Member] \| Measurement Input, Price Volatility [Member]
Warrants and Rights Outstanding, Measurement Input	0.777
Convertible Debt Securities [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Debt Securities, Term (Year)	3 years
Convertible Debt Securities [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Debt Securities, Term (Year)	5 years

Period between issuance and maturity of investment in debt security in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	blfs_DebtSecuritiesTerm
Namespace Prefix:	blfs_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Value of input used to measure outstanding warrant and right embodying unconditional obligation requiring redemption by transferring asset at specified or determinable date or upon event certain to occur.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (bbb)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=117815213&loc=d3e19207-110258

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_WarrantsAndRightsOutstandingMeasurementInput
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Period between issuance and expiration of outstanding warrant and right embodying unconditional obligation requiring redemption by transferring asset at specified or determinable date or upon event certain to occur, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (bbb)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=117815213&loc=d3e19207-110258

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_WarrantsAndRightsOutstandingTerm
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	srt_RangeAxis=srt_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_MeasurementInputTypeAxis=us-gaap_MeasurementInputPriceVolatilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_RangeAxis=srt_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: