Document And Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Jan. 20, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2011
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2011
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Registrant Name	Harbor BioSciences, Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	0000899394
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		35,422,140
Entity Public Float			$ 7,372,544