Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Mar. 22, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Document And Entity Information
Entity Registrant Name	HEMISPHERX BIOPHARMA INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000946644
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2018
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business Flag	true
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Ex Transition Period	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 14,981,748
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		62,290,318
Trading Symbol	HEB
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2018