Document and Entity Information	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Nov. 01, 2013
Document and Entity Information
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2013
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2013
Entity Registrant Name	HEMISPHERX BIOPHARMA INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000946644
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (shares)		167,686,551