Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 01, 2017
Document And Entity Information
Entity Registrant Name	HEMISPHERX BIOPHARMA INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000946644
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2017
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		26,461,072
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2017