Document and Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Mar. 28, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
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, 2015
Trading Symbol	HEB
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity a Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity a Voluntary Filer	No
Entity's Reporting Status Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Public Float			$ 48,329,181
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		247,571,887
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2015