Selected Quarterly Data (Unaudited) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Selected Quarterly Data (Unaudited) [Abstract]
Total revenue	$ 13,983	$ 10,262	$ 15,697	$ 17,229	$ 14,321	$ 18,416	$ 15,134	$ 13,396	$ 32,926	$ 43,188	$ 46,946	$ 57,171	$ 61,267	$ 52,073
Gross Profit	4,754	2,839	4,807	4,406	5,436	6,044	5,086	4,948
Operating expenses (income) (including cost of product revenue, gain on sale of oilseed processing business and restructuring)continuing operations	17,229	15,066	18,067	(14,887)	16,911	16,060	16,428	18,054	3,180	18,246	50,542	35,475	67,453	65,575
Net income attributed to Verenium Corporation	$ (3,622)	$ (5,213)	$ (2,253)	$ 29,301	$ (2,896)	$ 6,069	$ (1,468)	$ 3,813	$ 27,048	$ 21,835	$ 8,414	$ 18,213	$ 5,518	$ 19,933
Basic net income (loss) attributed to Verenium Corporation per common share	$ (0.28)	$ (0.41)	$ (0.18)	$ 2.32	$ (0.23)	$ 0.48	$ (0.12)	$ 0.30