Document And Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	May 01, 2013
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q/A
Amendment Flag	true
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2013
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2013
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Entity Registrant Name	SYNTROLEUM CORP
Entity Central Index Key	0001029023
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		9,932,088
Amendment Description	The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 3, 2013, is being amended to correct the number of shares of common stock outstanding on May 1, 2013, as shown on its cover page. The incorrect number was supplied to the Company by its stock transfer agent, and the cover page as now amended sets forth the correct number. All other stock information contained in the filed Form 10-Q was and remains correct and no change is being made in any Item of the filed Form 10-Q other than the cover page.