<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<FilingSummary xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
  <Version>2.4.0.8</Version>
  <ProcessingTime />
  <ReportFormat>Html</ReportFormat>
  <ContextCount>173</ContextCount>
  <ElementCount>245</ElementCount>
  <EntityCount>1</EntityCount>
  <FootnotesReported>false</FootnotesReported>
  <SegmentCount>57</SegmentCount>
  <ScenarioCount>0</ScenarioCount>
  <TuplesReported>false</TuplesReported>
  <UnitCount>6</UnitCount>
  <MyReports>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R1.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0001000 - Document - Document and Entity Information</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sequenom.com/role/DocumentAndEntityInformation</Role>
      <ShortName>Document and Entity Information</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>true</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R2.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1001000 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sequenom.com/role/CondensedConsolidatedBalanceSheets</Role>
      <ShortName>Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R3.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1001501 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sequenom.com/role/CondensedConsolidatedBalanceSheetsParenthetical</Role>
      <ShortName>Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R4.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1002000 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sequenom.com/role/CondensedConsolidatedStatementsOfOperationsAndComprehensiveLoss</Role>
      <ShortName>Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R5.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1005000 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sequenom.com/role/CondensedConsolidatedStatementsOfCashFlows</Role>
      <ShortName>Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R6.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2101100 - Disclosure - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sequenom.com/role/SummaryOfSignificantAccountingPolicies</Role>
      <ShortName>Summary of Significant Accounting Policies</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R7.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2106100 - Disclosure - Other Financial Information</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sequenom.com/role/OtherFinancialInformation</Role>
      <ShortName>Other Financial Information</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R8.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2107100 - Disclosure - Business Segments</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sequenom.com/role/BusinessSegments</Role>
      <ShortName>Business Segments</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R9.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2108100 - Disclosure - Long-Term Obligations</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sequenom.com/role/LongTermObligations</Role>
      <ShortName>Long-Term Obligations</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R10.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2113100 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingencies</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sequenom.com/role/CommitmentsAndContingencies</Role>
      <ShortName>Commitments and Contingencies</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R11.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2116100 - Disclosure - Stock Compensation Plans</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sequenom.com/role/StockCompensationPlans</Role>
      <ShortName>Stock Compensation Plans</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R12.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2118100 - Disclosure - Fair Value Measurements</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sequenom.com/role/FairValueMeasurements</Role>
      <ShortName>Fair Value Measurements</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R13.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2119100 - Disclosure - Restructuring Costs Restructuring Costs</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sequenom.com/role/RestructuringCostsRestructuringCosts</Role>
      <ShortName>Restructuring Costs Restructuring Costs</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R14.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2201201 - Disclosure - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sequenom.com/role/SummaryOfSignificantAccountingPoliciesPolicies</Role>
      <ShortName>Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R15.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2301302 - Disclosure - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sequenom.com/role/SummaryOfSignificantAccountingPoliciesTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R16.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2306301 - Disclosure - Other Financial Information (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sequenom.com/role/OtherFinancialInformationTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Other Financial Information (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R17.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2307301 - Disclosure - Business Segments (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sequenom.com/role/BusinessSegmentsTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Business Segments (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R18.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2308301 - Disclosure - Long-Term Obligations (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sequenom.com/role/LongTermObligationsTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Long-Term Obligations (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R19.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2316301 - Disclosure - Stock Compensation Plans (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sequenom.com/role/StockCompensationPlansTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Stock Compensation Plans (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R20.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2318301 - Disclosure - Fair Value Measurements (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sequenom.com/role/FairValueMeasurementsTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Fair Value Measurements (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R21.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2319301 - Disclosure - Restructuring Costs Restructuring Costs (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sequenom.com/role/RestructuringCostsRestructuringCostsTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Restructuring Costs Restructuring Costs (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R22.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2401403 - Disclosure - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sequenom.com/role/SummaryOfSignificantAccountingPoliciesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R23.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2401404 - Disclosure - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Property, Plant and Equipment) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sequenom.com/role/SummaryOfSignificantAccountingPoliciesPropertyPlantAndEquipmentDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Property, Plant and Equipment) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R24.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2401405 - Disclosure - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Net Loss Per Share) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sequenom.com/role/SummaryOfSignificantAccountingPoliciesNetLossPerShareDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Net Loss Per Share) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R25.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2406402 - Disclosure - Other Financial Information (Schedule of Marketable Securities) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sequenom.com/role/OtherFinancialInformationScheduleOfMarketableSecuritiesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Other Financial Information (Schedule of Marketable Securities) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R26.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2406403 - Disclosure - Other Financial Information (Schedule of Inventory Table) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sequenom.com/role/OtherFinancialInformationScheduleOfInventoryTableDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Other Financial Information (Schedule of Inventory Table) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R27.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2406404 - Disclosure - Other Financial Information (Property, Plant, &amp; Equipment) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sequenom.com/role/OtherFinancialInformationPropertyPlantEquipmentDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Other Financial Information (Property, Plant, &amp; Equipment) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R28.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2406405 - Disclosure - Other Financial Information (Accrued Expenses) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sequenom.com/role/OtherFinancialInformationAccruedExpensesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Other Financial Information (Accrued Expenses) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R29.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2406406 - Disclosure - Other Financial Information (Stockholders' Equity) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sequenom.com/role/OtherFinancialInformationStockholdersEquityDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Other Financial Information (Stockholders' Equity) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R30.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2406407 - Disclosure - Other Financial Information (Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sequenom.com/role/OtherFinancialInformationAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Other Financial Information (Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R31.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2407402 - Disclosure - Business Segments (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sequenom.com/role/BusinessSegmentsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Business Segments (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R32.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2408402 - Disclosure - Long-Term Obligations (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sequenom.com/role/LongTermObligationsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Long-Term Obligations (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R33.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2408403 - Disclosure - Long-Term Obligations (Parenthetical) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sequenom.com/role/LongTermObligationsParentheticalDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Long-Term Obligations (Parenthetical) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R34.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2413401 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and Contingencies (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sequenom.com/role/CommitmentsAndContingenciesCommitmentsAndContingenciesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and Contingencies (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R35.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2416402 - Disclosure - Stock Compensation Plans (Narrative) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sequenom.com/role/StockCompensationPlansNarrativeDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Stock Compensation Plans (Narrative) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R36.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2416403 - Disclosure - Stock Compensation Plans (Combined Activity) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sequenom.com/role/StockCompensationPlansCombinedActivityDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Stock Compensation Plans (Combined Activity) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R37.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2416404 - Disclosure - Stock Compensation Plans (Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sequenom.com/role/StockCompensationPlansRestrictedStockAndRestrictedStockUnitsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Stock Compensation Plans (Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R38.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2416405 - Disclosure - Stock Compensation Plans (Weighted-Average Underlying Assumptions Used) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sequenom.com/role/StockCompensationPlansWeightedAverageUnderlyingAssumptionsUsedDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Stock Compensation Plans (Weighted-Average Underlying Assumptions Used) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R39.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2416406 - Disclosure - Stock Compensation Plans (Non-cash stock-based compensation expense) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sequenom.com/role/StockCompensationPlansNonCashStockBasedCompensationExpenseDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Stock Compensation Plans (Non-cash stock-based compensation expense) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R40.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2418402 - Disclosure - Fair Value Measurements Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring Basis (details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sequenom.com/role/FairValueMeasurementsFairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Fair Value Measurements Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Recurring Basis (details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R41.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2418403 - Disclosure - Fair Value Measurements Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Nonrecurring Basis (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sequenom.com/role/FairValueMeasurementsFairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnNonrecurringBasisDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Fair Value Measurements Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on a Nonrecurring Basis (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R42.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2418404 - Disclosure - Fair Value Measurements (Fair Value of Long-term Commitments) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sequenom.com/role/FairValueMeasurementsFairValueOfLongTermCommitmentsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Fair Value Measurements (Fair Value of Long-term Commitments) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R43.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2419402 - Disclosure - Restructuring Costs Restructuring Costs (Narrative) (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sequenom.com/role/RestructuringCostsRestructuringCostsNarrativeDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Restructuring Costs Restructuring Costs (Narrative) (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R44.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2419403 - Disclosure - Restructuring Costs Restructuring Costs (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sequenom.com/role/RestructuringCostsRestructuringCostsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Restructuring Costs Restructuring Costs (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R45.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2419404 - Disclosure - Restructuring Costs Restructuring costs by segment (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.sequenom.com/role/RestructuringCostsRestructuringCostsBySegmentDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Restructuring Costs Restructuring costs by segment (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <LongName>All Reports</LongName>
      <ReportType>Book</ReportType>
      <ShortName>All Reports</ShortName>
    </Report>
  </MyReports>
  <Logs>
    <Log type="Info">Element us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligations had a mix of decimals attribute values: -5 -3.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Element us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized had a mix of decimals attribute values: -5 -3.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">'Monetary' elements on report '2406402 - Disclosure - Other Financial Information (Schedule of Marketable Securities) (Details)' had a mix of different decimal attribute values.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">'Monetary' elements on report '2406403 - Disclosure - Other Financial Information (Schedule of Inventory Table) (Details)' had a mix of different decimal attribute values.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">'Monetary' elements on report '2406404 - Disclosure - Other Financial Information (Property, Plant, &amp; Equipment) (Details)' had a mix of different decimal attribute values.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">'Monetary' elements on report '2408402 - Disclosure - Long-Term Obligations (Details)' had a mix of different decimal attribute values.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">'Monetary' elements on report '2416402 - Disclosure - Stock Compensation Plans (Narrative) (Details)' had a mix of different decimal attribute values.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 1001000 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets</Log>
    <Log type="Info">	Process Flow-Through: Removing column 'Sep. 30, 2012'</Log>
    <Log type="Info">	Process Flow-Through: Removing column 'Dec. 31, 2011'</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 1001501 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical)</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 1002000 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 1005000 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows</Log>
  </Logs>
  <InputFiles>
    <File>sqnm-20130930.xml</File>
    <File>sqnm-20130930.xsd</File>
    <File>sqnm-20130930_cal.xml</File>
    <File>sqnm-20130930_def.xml</File>
    <File>sqnm-20130930_lab.xml</File>
    <File>sqnm-20130930_pre.xml</File>
  </InputFiles>
  <SupplementalFiles />
  <BaseTaxonomies />
  <HasPresentationLinkbase>true</HasPresentationLinkbase>
  <HasCalculationLinkbase>true</HasCalculationLinkbase>
</FilingSummary>
