Name:	sgen_ContingentContractualPayments
Namespace Prefix:	sgen_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Minimum contractual payments to be made under license and contract manufacturing agreements, excluding payments that are contingent upon achievement of certain progress dependent milestones and royalties based on net sales of commercial products.

No definition available.

Name:	sgen_MinimumContractualPaymentsDueCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	sgen_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Minimum contractual payments due within fifth year from the balance sheet date under license and contract manufacturing agreements, excluding payments that are contingent upon achievement of certain progress dependent milestones and royalties based on net sales of commercial products.

No definition available.

Name:	sgen_MinimumContractualPaymentsDueInFiveYears
Namespace Prefix:	sgen_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Minimum contractual payments due within fourth year from the balance sheet date under license and contract manufacturing agreements, excluding payments that are contingent upon achievement of certain progress dependent milestones and royalties based on net sales of commercial products.

No definition available.

Name:	sgen_MinimumContractualPaymentsDueInFourYears
Namespace Prefix:	sgen_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

No definition available.

Name:	sgen_MinimumContractualPaymentsDueInThreeYears
Namespace Prefix:	sgen_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

No definition available.

Name:	sgen_MinimumContractualPaymentsDueInTwoYears
Namespace Prefix:	sgen_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Operating lease, area of facility.

No definition available.

Name:	sgen_OperatingLeaseAreaOfFacility
Namespace Prefix:	sgen_
Data Type:	num:areaItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Operating lease area of facility with early termination option.

No definition available.

Name:	sgen_OperatingLeaseAreaOfFacilityWithEarlyTerminationOption
Namespace Prefix:	sgen_
Data Type:	num:areaItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CommitmentsAndContingenciesDisclosureAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The cumulative difference between the rental payments required by a lease agreement and the rental income or expense recognized on a straight-line basis, or other systematic and rational basis more representative of the time pattern in which use or benefit is granted or derived from the leased property, expected to be recognized in income or expense over the term of the leased property by the lessor or lessee, respectively.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Technical Bulletin (FTB)

-Number 85-3

-Paragraph 2

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 13

-Paragraph 19

-Subparagraph b

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 840

-SubTopic 20

-Section 25

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6453417&loc=d3e39896-112707

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredRentCredit
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Rental expense incurred for leased assets including furniture and equipment which has not been recognized in costs and expenses applicable to sales and revenues; for example, cost of goods sold or other operating costs and expenses.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_LeaseAndRentalExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

The date upon which a lease or a group of leases is set to expire.

No definition available.