<?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>HtmlAndXml</ReportFormat>
  <ContextCount>59</ContextCount>
  <ElementCount>189</ElementCount>
  <EntityCount>1</EntityCount>
  <FootnotesReported>false</FootnotesReported>
  <SegmentCount>27</SegmentCount>
  <ScenarioCount>0</ScenarioCount>
  <TuplesReported>false</TuplesReported>
  <UnitCount>5</UnitCount>
  <MyReports>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R1.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000 - Disclosure - Document And Entity Information</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.swkhold.com/role/DocumentAndEntityInformation</Role>
      <ShortName>Document And Entity Information</ShortName>
      <XmlFileName>R1.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>true</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R2.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>001 - Statement - Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.swkhold.com/role/ConsolidatedBalanceSheet</Role>
      <ShortName>Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets</ShortName>
      <XmlFileName>R2.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R3.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>002 - Statement - Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parentheticals)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.swkhold.com/role/ConsolidatedBalanceSheet_Parentheticals</Role>
      <ShortName>Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parentheticals)</ShortName>
      <XmlFileName>R3.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R4.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>003 - Statement - Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.swkhold.com/role/ConsolidatedIncomeStatement</Role>
      <ShortName>Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)</ShortName>
      <XmlFileName>R4.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R5.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>004 - Statement - Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.swkhold.com/role/ConsolidatedCashFlow</Role>
      <ShortName>Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows</ShortName>
      <XmlFileName>R5.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R6.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>005 - Disclosure - Note 1 - SWK Holdings Corporation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.swkhold.com/role/Note1SWKHoldingsCorporationandSummaryofSignificantAccountingPolicies</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 1 - SWK Holdings Corporation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies</ShortName>
      <XmlFileName>R6.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R7.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>006 - Disclosure - Note 2 - Finance Receivables</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.swkhold.com/role/Note2FinanceReceivables</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 2 - Finance Receivables</ShortName>
      <XmlFileName>R7.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R8.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>007 - Disclosure - Note 3 - Variable Interest Entities</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.swkhold.com/role/Note3VariableInterestEntities</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 3 - Variable Interest Entities</ShortName>
      <XmlFileName>R8.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R9.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>008 - Disclosure - Note 4 - Stockholders' Equity</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.swkhold.com/role/Note4StockholdersEquity</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 4 - Stockholders' Equity</ShortName>
      <XmlFileName>R9.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R10.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>009 - Disclosure - Note 5 - Fair Value Measurements</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.swkhold.com/role/Note5FairValueMeasurements</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 5 - Fair Value Measurements</ShortName>
      <XmlFileName>R10.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R11.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>010 - Disclosure - Note 6 - Income Taxes</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.swkhold.com/role/Note6IncomeTaxes</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 6 - Income Taxes</ShortName>
      <XmlFileName>R11.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R12.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>011 - Disclosure - Note 7 - Subsequent Events</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.swkhold.com/role/Note7SubsequentEvents</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 7 - Subsequent Events</ShortName>
      <XmlFileName>R12.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R13.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>012 - Disclosure - Accounting Policies, by Policy (Policies)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.swkhold.com/role/AccountingPoliciesByPolicy</Role>
      <ShortName>Accounting Policies, by Policy (Policies)</ShortName>
      <XmlFileName>R13.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R14.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>013 - Disclosure - Note 1 - SWK Holdings Corporation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.swkhold.com/role/Note1SWKHoldingsCorporationandSummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 1 - SWK Holdings Corporation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)</ShortName>
      <XmlFileName>R14.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R15.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>014 - Disclosure - Note 3 - Variable Interest Entities (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.swkhold.com/role/Note3VariableInterestEntitiesTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 3 - Variable Interest Entities (Tables)</ShortName>
      <XmlFileName>R15.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R16.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>015 - Disclosure - Note 4 - Stockholders' Equity (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.swkhold.com/role/Note4StockholdersEquityTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 4 - Stockholders' Equity (Tables)</ShortName>
      <XmlFileName>R16.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R17.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>016 - Disclosure - Note 6 - Income Taxes (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.swkhold.com/role/Note6IncomeTaxesTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 6 - Income Taxes (Tables)</ShortName>
      <XmlFileName>R17.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R18.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>017 - Disclosure - Note 1 - SWK Holdings Corporation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.swkhold.com/role/Note1SWKHoldingsCorporationandSummaryofSignificantAccountingPoliciesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 1 - SWK Holdings Corporation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details)</ShortName>
      <XmlFileName>R18.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R19.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>018 - Disclosure - Note 1 - SWK Holdings Corporation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) - Computation of basic and diluted earnings per share</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.swkhold.com/role/ComputationofbasicanddilutedearningspershareTable</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 1 - SWK Holdings Corporation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) - Computation of basic and diluted earnings per share</ShortName>
      <XmlFileName>R19.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R20.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>019 - Disclosure - Note 2 - Finance Receivables (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.swkhold.com/role/Note2FinanceReceivablesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 2 - Finance Receivables (Details)</ShortName>
      <XmlFileName>R20.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R21.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>020 - Disclosure - Note 3 - Variable Interest Entities (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.swkhold.com/role/Note3VariableInterestEntitiesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 3 - Variable Interest Entities (Details)</ShortName>
      <XmlFileName>R21.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R22.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>021 - Disclosure - Note 3 - Variable Interest Entities (Details) - Change in Investment Carrying Amount - Holmdel</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.swkhold.com/role/ChangeinInvestmentCarryingAmountHolmdelTable</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 3 - Variable Interest Entities (Details) - Change in Investment Carrying Amount - Holmdel</ShortName>
      <XmlFileName>R22.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R23.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>022 - Disclosure - Note 3 - Variable Interest Entities (Details) - Financial Statement Information Related to Holmdel</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.swkhold.com/role/FinancialStatementInformationRelatedtoHolmdelTable</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 3 - Variable Interest Entities (Details) - Financial Statement Information Related to Holmdel</ShortName>
      <XmlFileName>R23.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R24.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>023 - Disclosure - Note 4 - Stockholders' Equity (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.swkhold.com/role/Note4StockholdersEquityDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 4 - Stockholders' Equity (Details)</ShortName>
      <XmlFileName>R24.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R25.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>024 - Disclosure - Note 4 - Stockholders' Equity (Details) - Summary of activities under the option plans</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.swkhold.com/role/SummaryofactivitiesundertheoptionplansTable</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 4 - Stockholders' Equity (Details) - Summary of activities under the option plans</ShortName>
      <XmlFileName>R25.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R26.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>025 - Disclosure - Note 4 - Stockholders' Equity (Details) - Significant Ranges Of Outstanding And Exercisable Options</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.swkhold.com/role/SignificantRangesOfOutstandingAndExercisableOptionsTable</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 4 - Stockholders' Equity (Details) - Significant Ranges Of Outstanding And Exercisable Options</ShortName>
      <XmlFileName>R26.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R27.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>026 - Disclosure - Note 4 - Stockholders' Equity (Details) - Restricted Stock Activity</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.swkhold.com/role/RestrictedStockActivityTable</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 4 - Stockholders' Equity (Details) - Restricted Stock Activity</ShortName>
      <XmlFileName>R27.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R28.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>027 - Disclosure - Note 4 - Stockholders' Equity (Details) - Changes in the Carrying Amount of the Non-Controlling Interest</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.swkhold.com/role/ChangesintheCarryingAmountoftheNonControllingInterestTable</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 4 - Stockholders' Equity (Details) - Changes in the Carrying Amount of the Non-Controlling Interest</ShortName>
      <XmlFileName>R28.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R29.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>028 - Disclosure - Note 6 - Income Taxes (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.swkhold.com/role/Note6IncomeTaxesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 6 - Income Taxes (Details)</ShortName>
      <XmlFileName>R29.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R30.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>029 - Disclosure - Note 6 - Income Taxes (Details) - Reconciliation of Beginning and Ending Amount of Unrecognized Tax Benefits</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.swkhold.com/role/ReconciliationofBeginningandEndingAmountofUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsTable</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 6 - Income Taxes (Details) - Reconciliation of Beginning and Ending Amount of Unrecognized Tax Benefits</ShortName>
      <XmlFileName>R30.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R31.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>030 - Disclosure - Note 7 - Subsequent Events (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.swkhold.com/role/Note7SubsequentEventsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Note 7 - Subsequent Events (Details)</ShortName>
      <XmlFileName>R31.xml</XmlFileName>
    </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_IncreaseDecreaseInRestrictedCash had a mix of decimals attribute values: -3 0.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Element us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireIntangibleAssets had a mix of decimals attribute values: -6 0.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Element us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation had a mix of decimals attribute values: -3 0.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">'Monetary' elements on report '001 - Statement - Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets' had a mix of different decimal attribute values.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">'Monetary' elements on report '003 - Statement - Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)' had a mix of different decimal attribute values.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">'Monetary' elements on report '004 - Statement - Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows' had a mix of different decimal attribute values.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">'Monetary' elements on report '021 - Disclosure - Note 3 - Variable Interest Entities (Details) - Change in Investment Carrying Amount - Holmdel' had a mix of different decimal attribute values.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">'Shares' elements on report '023 - Disclosure - Note 4 - Stockholders' Equity (Details)' had a mix of different decimal attribute values.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">'Monetary' elements on report '023 - Disclosure - Note 4 - Stockholders' Equity (Details)' had a mix of different decimal attribute values.</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 001 - Statement - Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets</Log>
    <Log type="Info">	Process Flow-Through: Removing column 'Jun. 30, 2012'</Log>
    <Log type="Info">	Process Flow-Through: Removing column 'Dec. 31, 2011'</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 002 - Statement - Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parentheticals)</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 003 - Statement - Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 004 - Statement - Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows</Log>
  </Logs>
  <InputFiles>
    <File>swkhob-20130630.xml</File>
    <File>swkhob-20130630.xsd</File>
    <File>swkhob-20130630_cal.xml</File>
    <File>swkhob-20130630_def.xml</File>
    <File>swkhob-20130630_lab.xml</File>
    <File>swkhob-20130630_pre.xml</File>
  </InputFiles>
  <SupplementalFiles />
  <BaseTaxonomies />
  <HasPresentationLinkbase>true</HasPresentationLinkbase>
  <HasCalculationLinkbase>true</HasCalculationLinkbase>
</FilingSummary>
