Cell Targeting, Inc Asset Purchase (Details) (Cell Targeting, Inc. [Member], USD $)	0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 28, 2011	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2011
Cell Targeting, Inc. [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Date of acquisition		Jan. 28, 2011
Number of shares issued as part of acquisition (in shares)	261,959
Intangible assets, useful life		10 years
Components of the purchase price [Abstract]
BioTime common shares	$ 2,300,000
Cash	250,000
Total purchase price	2,550,000
Assets acquired and liabilities assumed [Abstract]
Cash	3,150
Other current assets	2,443
Due from sellers	593,353
Intangible assets	2,419,287
Current liabilities	(468,233)
Net assets acquired	$ 2,550,000
Fair value share issued (in dollars per share)	$ 8.78
Number of trading days preceding the agreement used for share price calculation			20 days