2.4.0.84140 - Disclosure - ADM COLLABORATION (Details)truefalseIn Thousands, unless otherwise specifiedfalse1false USDfalsefalse$D2012Q2YTDhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001121702duration2012-01-01T00:00:002012-06-30T00:00:00USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$2false USDtruefalse$I2013Q1_M02_ADMPolymerCorporationMember_TellesMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001121702instant2013-02-28T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseADM Polymerdei_LegalEntityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldimblx_ADMPolymerCorporationMemberdei_LegalEntityAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseTellesus-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldimblx_TellesMemberus-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$3false USDtruefalse$D2012Q1_M0208_TellesMember_CollaborativeArrangementMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001121702duration2012-02-07T00:00:002012-02-08T00:00:00falsefalseCommercial Alliance Agreementus-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_CollaborativeArrangementMemberus-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseTellesus-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldimblx_TellesMemberus-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$4false truefalseD2012Q1_M0208_ADMPolymerCorporationMember_CollaborativeArrangementMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001121702duration2012-02-07T00:00:002012-02-08T00:00:00falsefalseCommercial Alliance Agreementus-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_CollaborativeArrangementMemberus-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseADM Polymerdei_LegalEntityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldimblx_ADMPolymerCorporationMemberdei_LegalEntityAxisexplicitMemberPoundStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2009/utrlbutr05false USDtruefalse$D2012Q1_ADMPolymerCorporationMember_CollaborativeArrangementMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001121702duration2012-01-01T00:00:002012-03-31T00:00:00falsefalseCommercial Alliance Agreementus-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_CollaborativeArrangementMemberus-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseADM Polymerdei_LegalEntityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldimblx_ADMPolymerCorporationMemberdei_LegalEntityAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$1true 3us-gaap_CollaborativeArrangementsAndNoncollaborativeArrangementTransactionsLineItemsus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringfalse0Significant collaboration2false 4mblx_CollaborativeArrangementManufacturingFacilityAnnualProductionCapabilitymblx_falsenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse110000000110000000falsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsenum:massItemTypedecimalRepresents the production capability of manufacturing facility to be constructed under the agreement.No definition available.false256Annual production capability of manufacturing facility that will be constructed under the agreement (in pounds)3false 4mblx_RevenueFromTerminationOfCollaborationWithSubsidiarymblx_falsecreditdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboseLabel1truefalsefalse3888500038885USD$falsetruefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse5truefalsefalse3888500038885USD$falsetruefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryRevenue earned during the period from termination of the collaboration.No definition available.false2Deferred revenue recognized4false 4mblx_CollaborativeArrangementSettlementAgreementPurchasePriceToAcquireAssetsOfJointVenturemblx_falsecreditdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse29820002982falsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryRepresents the purchase price to acquire certain assets of the joint venture under the settlement agreement of collaborative arrangement.No definition available.false2Purchase price to acquire assets of joint venture5false 4us-gaap_ContractualObligationus-gaap_truecreditinstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse00USD$falsetruefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAmount of contractual obligation, including but not limited to, long-term debt, capital lease obligations, operating lease obligations, purchase obligations, and other commitments.No definition available.false2Potential obligations in connection with the agreementfalseADM COLLABORATION (Details) (USD $)ThousandsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruefalsefalseSheethttp://www.metabolix.com/role/DisclosureADMCollaborationDetails55