Cover Page - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Apr. 30, 2021
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2021
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	0-24006
Entity Registrant Name	NEKTAR THERAPEUTICS
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	94-3134940
Entity Address, Address Line One	455 Mission Bay Boulevard South
Entity Address, City or Town	San Francisco
Entity Address, State or Province	CA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	94158
City Area Code	415
Local Phone Number	482-5300
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, $0.0001 par value
Trading Symbol	NKTR
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		182,308,999
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2021
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Entity Central Index Key	0000906709
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31