<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<xbrl
  xmlns="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance"
  xmlns:dei="http://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019-01-31"
  xmlns:link="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase"
  xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">
    <link:schemaRef xlink:href="cdxs-20200227.xsd" xlink:type="simple"/>
    <context id="iabf55790ed4443eab26eeb7da854ed44_D20200227-20200227">
        <entity>
            <identifier scheme="http://www.sec.gov/CIK">0001200375</identifier>
        </entity>
        <period>
            <startDate>2020-02-27</startDate>
            <endDate>2020-02-27</endDate>
        </period>
    </context>
    <dei:EntityCentralIndexKey
      contextRef="iabf55790ed4443eab26eeb7da854ed44_D20200227-20200227"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjU3ZGI3OWU5YzhiMDQxNmVhMTllY2I1NzIyYTMxMTM3L3NlYzo1N2RiNzllOWM4YjA0MTZlYTE5ZWNiNTcyMmEzMTEzN18xMzQvZnJhZzpmZjNkNDZjMWVkZTY0NWU4YjQyMDQ2YWU3MzUwZjVjMS90YWJsZTpiZTY2ZDMxMWFjYzg0ODBjYWJlMDQ4YzRkNDg0MDMzYy90YWJsZXJhbmdlOmJlNjZkMzExYWNjODQ4MGNhYmUwNDhjNGQ0ODQwMzNjXzAtMS0xLTEtODk_7f224b3c-6d68-47a4-a765-d0d886299781">0001200375</dei:EntityCentralIndexKey>
    <dei:AmendmentFlag
      contextRef="iabf55790ed4443eab26eeb7da854ed44_D20200227-20200227"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjU3ZGI3OWU5YzhiMDQxNmVhMTllY2I1NzIyYTMxMTM3L3NlYzo1N2RiNzllOWM4YjA0MTZlYTE5ZWNiNTcyMmEzMTEzN18xMzQvZnJhZzpmZjNkNDZjMWVkZTY0NWU4YjQyMDQ2YWU3MzUwZjVjMS90YWJsZTpiZTY2ZDMxMWFjYzg0ODBjYWJlMDQ4YzRkNDg0MDMzYy90YWJsZXJhbmdlOmJlNjZkMzExYWNjODQ4MGNhYmUwNDhjNGQ0ODQwMzNjXzEtMS0xLTEtODk_b81a446b-1eb0-4b29-b400-7da442537e3b">false</dei:AmendmentFlag>
    <dei:DocumentType
      contextRef="iabf55790ed4443eab26eeb7da854ed44_D20200227-20200227"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjU3ZGI3OWU5YzhiMDQxNmVhMTllY2I1NzIyYTMxMTM3L3NlYzo1N2RiNzllOWM4YjA0MTZlYTE5ZWNiNTcyMmEzMTEzN18xL2ZyYWc6MGViZWY1NTcxZDAxNDJlYmEzYjNjZDIyYmYyNmQ5YTcvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjowZWJlZjU1NzFkMDE0MmViYTNiM2NkMjJiZjI2ZDlhN18yNzQ4Nzc5MDcwODE5_5bb9cc4b-d3e9-4bf4-84bc-564705ee86f8">8-K</dei:DocumentType>
    <dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate
      contextRef="iabf55790ed4443eab26eeb7da854ed44_D20200227-20200227"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjU3ZGI3OWU5YzhiMDQxNmVhMTllY2I1NzIyYTMxMTM3L3NlYzo1N2RiNzllOWM4YjA0MTZlYTE5ZWNiNTcyMmEzMTEzN18xL2ZyYWc6MGViZWY1NTcxZDAxNDJlYmEzYjNjZDIyYmYyNmQ5YTcvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjowZWJlZjU1NzFkMDE0MmViYTNiM2NkMjJiZjI2ZDlhN18yNzQ4Nzc5MDcwODI0_0127df12-0319-4254-967a-efd9abcdba73">2020-02-27</dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate>
    <dei:EntityRegistrantName
      contextRef="iabf55790ed4443eab26eeb7da854ed44_D20200227-20200227"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjU3ZGI3OWU5YzhiMDQxNmVhMTllY2I1NzIyYTMxMTM3L3NlYzo1N2RiNzllOWM4YjA0MTZlYTE5ZWNiNTcyMmEzMTEzN18xL2ZyYWc6MGViZWY1NTcxZDAxNDJlYmEzYjNjZDIyYmYyNmQ5YTcvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjowZWJlZjU1NzFkMDE0MmViYTNiM2NkMjJiZjI2ZDlhN18yNzQ4Nzc5MDcwODQz_479baff4-09c9-4346-88f7-ea1d82bb6c8a">Codexis, Inc.</dei:EntityRegistrantName>
    <dei:EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode
      contextRef="iabf55790ed4443eab26eeb7da854ed44_D20200227-20200227"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjU3ZGI3OWU5YzhiMDQxNmVhMTllY2I1NzIyYTMxMTM3L3NlYzo1N2RiNzllOWM4YjA0MTZlYTE5ZWNiNTcyMmEzMTEzN18xL2ZyYWc6MGViZWY1NTcxZDAxNDJlYmEzYjNjZDIyYmYyNmQ5YTcvdGFibGU6ODBjODA0NTgxN2UwNDY2Yzk5OTA5Y2Y1ZjEyOWZmMTcvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo4MGM4MDQ1ODE3ZTA0NjZjOTk5MDljZjVmMTI5ZmYxN18wLTAtMS0xLTIx_a47b2e65-dc85-4769-ad66-ec91e759ece7">DE</dei:EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode>
    <dei:EntityFileNumber
      contextRef="iabf55790ed4443eab26eeb7da854ed44_D20200227-20200227"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjU3ZGI3OWU5YzhiMDQxNmVhMTllY2I1NzIyYTMxMTM3L3NlYzo1N2RiNzllOWM4YjA0MTZlYTE5ZWNiNTcyMmEzMTEzN18xL2ZyYWc6MGViZWY1NTcxZDAxNDJlYmEzYjNjZDIyYmYyNmQ5YTcvdGFibGU6ODBjODA0NTgxN2UwNDY2Yzk5OTA5Y2Y1ZjEyOWZmMTcvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo4MGM4MDQ1ODE3ZTA0NjZjOTk5MDljZjVmMTI5ZmYxN18wLTItMS0xLTIx_a9ceac53-eb3d-45ec-8d5a-7303c1c56db1">001-34705</dei:EntityFileNumber>
    <dei:EntityTaxIdentificationNumber
      contextRef="iabf55790ed4443eab26eeb7da854ed44_D20200227-20200227"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjU3ZGI3OWU5YzhiMDQxNmVhMTllY2I1NzIyYTMxMTM3L3NlYzo1N2RiNzllOWM4YjA0MTZlYTE5ZWNiNTcyMmEzMTEzN18xL2ZyYWc6MGViZWY1NTcxZDAxNDJlYmEzYjNjZDIyYmYyNmQ5YTcvdGFibGU6ODBjODA0NTgxN2UwNDY2Yzk5OTA5Y2Y1ZjEyOWZmMTcvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo4MGM4MDQ1ODE3ZTA0NjZjOTk5MDljZjVmMTI5ZmYxN18wLTQtMS0xLTIx_54bfa81f-6b95-4d14-a932-10cf36951dac">71-0872999</dei:EntityTaxIdentificationNumber>
    <dei:EntityAddressAddressLine1
      contextRef="iabf55790ed4443eab26eeb7da854ed44_D20200227-20200227"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjU3ZGI3OWU5YzhiMDQxNmVhMTllY2I1NzIyYTMxMTM3L3NlYzo1N2RiNzllOWM4YjA0MTZlYTE5ZWNiNTcyMmEzMTEzN18xL2ZyYWc6MGViZWY1NTcxZDAxNDJlYmEzYjNjZDIyYmYyNmQ5YTcvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjowZWJlZjU1NzFkMDE0MmViYTNiM2NkMjJiZjI2ZDlhN18yNzQ4Nzc5MDcwODU4_4200873e-7d38-406e-9fd8-1accdc7e3640">200 Penobscot Drive</dei:EntityAddressAddressLine1>
    <dei:EntityAddressCityOrTown
      contextRef="iabf55790ed4443eab26eeb7da854ed44_D20200227-20200227"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjU3ZGI3OWU5YzhiMDQxNmVhMTllY2I1NzIyYTMxMTM3L3NlYzo1N2RiNzllOWM4YjA0MTZlYTE5ZWNiNTcyMmEzMTEzN18xL2ZyYWc6MGViZWY1NTcxZDAxNDJlYmEzYjNjZDIyYmYyNmQ5YTcvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjowZWJlZjU1NzFkMDE0MmViYTNiM2NkMjJiZjI2ZDlhN18yNzQ4Nzc5MDcwODc5_40e50e75-a1bc-4a07-93ff-08cc40458848">Redwood City</dei:EntityAddressCityOrTown>
    <dei:EntityAddressStateOrProvince
      contextRef="iabf55790ed4443eab26eeb7da854ed44_D20200227-20200227"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjU3ZGI3OWU5YzhiMDQxNmVhMTllY2I1NzIyYTMxMTM3L3NlYzo1N2RiNzllOWM4YjA0MTZlYTE5ZWNiNTcyMmEzMTEzN18xL2ZyYWc6MGViZWY1NTcxZDAxNDJlYmEzYjNjZDIyYmYyNmQ5YTcvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjowZWJlZjU1NzFkMDE0MmViYTNiM2NkMjJiZjI2ZDlhN18yNzQ4Nzc5MDcwODkz_49acded4-9214-433d-91dd-a7b27bc69bf0">CA</dei:EntityAddressStateOrProvince>
    <dei:EntityAddressPostalZipCode
      contextRef="iabf55790ed4443eab26eeb7da854ed44_D20200227-20200227"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjU3ZGI3OWU5YzhiMDQxNmVhMTllY2I1NzIyYTMxMTM3L3NlYzo1N2RiNzllOWM4YjA0MTZlYTE5ZWNiNTcyMmEzMTEzN18xL2ZyYWc6MGViZWY1NTcxZDAxNDJlYmEzYjNjZDIyYmYyNmQ5YTcvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjowZWJlZjU1NzFkMDE0MmViYTNiM2NkMjJiZjI2ZDlhN18yNzQ4Nzc5MDcwODk3_839196b0-63e7-48d6-b94b-10bcb6863127">94063</dei:EntityAddressPostalZipCode>
    <dei:CityAreaCode
      contextRef="iabf55790ed4443eab26eeb7da854ed44_D20200227-20200227"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjU3ZGI3OWU5YzhiMDQxNmVhMTllY2I1NzIyYTMxMTM3L3NlYzo1N2RiNzllOWM4YjA0MTZlYTE5ZWNiNTcyMmEzMTEzN18xL2ZyYWc6MGViZWY1NTcxZDAxNDJlYmEzYjNjZDIyYmYyNmQ5YTcvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjowZWJlZjU1NzFkMDE0MmViYTNiM2NkMjJiZjI2ZDlhN18yNzQ4Nzc5MDcwOTA0_c60e31e6-d9aa-4694-bc3b-f62a6a4eb19b">650</dei:CityAreaCode>
    <dei:LocalPhoneNumber
      contextRef="iabf55790ed4443eab26eeb7da854ed44_D20200227-20200227"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjU3ZGI3OWU5YzhiMDQxNmVhMTllY2I1NzIyYTMxMTM3L3NlYzo1N2RiNzllOWM4YjA0MTZlYTE5ZWNiNTcyMmEzMTEzN18xL2ZyYWc6MGViZWY1NTcxZDAxNDJlYmEzYjNjZDIyYmYyNmQ5YTcvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjowZWJlZjU1NzFkMDE0MmViYTNiM2NkMjJiZjI2ZDlhN18yNzQ4Nzc5MDcwOTA5_de9e7edf-47e2-483f-bfcb-3f198f218e04">421-8100</dei:LocalPhoneNumber>
    <dei:WrittenCommunications
      contextRef="iabf55790ed4443eab26eeb7da854ed44_D20200227-20200227"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjU3ZGI3OWU5YzhiMDQxNmVhMTllY2I1NzIyYTMxMTM3L3NlYzo1N2RiNzllOWM4YjA0MTZlYTE5ZWNiNTcyMmEzMTEzN18xL2ZyYWc6MGViZWY1NTcxZDAxNDJlYmEzYjNjZDIyYmYyNmQ5YTcvdGFibGU6NGQ2NGEwZGQ1YjdiNDQ5ODhmMTczMzhhZGU2MjNlMjEvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo0ZDY0YTBkZDViN2I0NDk4OGYxNzMzOGFkZTYyM2UyMV8wLTAtMS0xLTYx_069f54a5-2d0b-41df-8ff4-f0c0e017da58">false</dei:WrittenCommunications>
    <dei:SolicitingMaterial
      contextRef="iabf55790ed4443eab26eeb7da854ed44_D20200227-20200227"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjU3ZGI3OWU5YzhiMDQxNmVhMTllY2I1NzIyYTMxMTM3L3NlYzo1N2RiNzllOWM4YjA0MTZlYTE5ZWNiNTcyMmEzMTEzN18xL2ZyYWc6MGViZWY1NTcxZDAxNDJlYmEzYjNjZDIyYmYyNmQ5YTcvdGFibGU6NGQ2NGEwZGQ1YjdiNDQ5ODhmMTczMzhhZGU2MjNlMjEvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo0ZDY0YTBkZDViN2I0NDk4OGYxNzMzOGFkZTYyM2UyMV8xLTAtMS0xLTYx_2170e6b1-0df0-4cd8-b5be-e8451bc40726">false</dei:SolicitingMaterial>
    <dei:PreCommencementTenderOffer
      contextRef="iabf55790ed4443eab26eeb7da854ed44_D20200227-20200227"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjU3ZGI3OWU5YzhiMDQxNmVhMTllY2I1NzIyYTMxMTM3L3NlYzo1N2RiNzllOWM4YjA0MTZlYTE5ZWNiNTcyMmEzMTEzN18xL2ZyYWc6MGViZWY1NTcxZDAxNDJlYmEzYjNjZDIyYmYyNmQ5YTcvdGFibGU6NGQ2NGEwZGQ1YjdiNDQ5ODhmMTczMzhhZGU2MjNlMjEvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo0ZDY0YTBkZDViN2I0NDk4OGYxNzMzOGFkZTYyM2UyMV8yLTAtMS0xLTYx_2525ce52-b4d9-40e1-ad38-333f88eb48f2">false</dei:PreCommencementTenderOffer>
    <dei:PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer
      contextRef="iabf55790ed4443eab26eeb7da854ed44_D20200227-20200227"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjU3ZGI3OWU5YzhiMDQxNmVhMTllY2I1NzIyYTMxMTM3L3NlYzo1N2RiNzllOWM4YjA0MTZlYTE5ZWNiNTcyMmEzMTEzN18xL2ZyYWc6MGViZWY1NTcxZDAxNDJlYmEzYjNjZDIyYmYyNmQ5YTcvdGFibGU6NGQ2NGEwZGQ1YjdiNDQ5ODhmMTczMzhhZGU2MjNlMjEvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo0ZDY0YTBkZDViN2I0NDk4OGYxNzMzOGFkZTYyM2UyMV8zLTAtMS0xLTYx_dd35ec0a-3839-45b0-be9d-1651ea924e83">false</dei:PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer>
    <dei:Security12bTitle
      contextRef="iabf55790ed4443eab26eeb7da854ed44_D20200227-20200227"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjU3ZGI3OWU5YzhiMDQxNmVhMTllY2I1NzIyYTMxMTM3L3NlYzo1N2RiNzllOWM4YjA0MTZlYTE5ZWNiNTcyMmEzMTEzN18xL2ZyYWc6MGViZWY1NTcxZDAxNDJlYmEzYjNjZDIyYmYyNmQ5YTcvdGFibGU6NGE4NmIyMjk2YWViNDVhMGJjNDYzNmEwMTg1YjRlYTYvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo0YTg2YjIyOTZhZWI0NWEwYmM0NjM2YTAxODViNGVhNl8xLTAtMS0xLTMxNA_9ff5a367-84ec-44e5-8275-2ccb5d233873">Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share</dei:Security12bTitle>
    <dei:TradingSymbol
      contextRef="iabf55790ed4443eab26eeb7da854ed44_D20200227-20200227"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjU3ZGI3OWU5YzhiMDQxNmVhMTllY2I1NzIyYTMxMTM3L3NlYzo1N2RiNzllOWM4YjA0MTZlYTE5ZWNiNTcyMmEzMTEzN18xL2ZyYWc6MGViZWY1NTcxZDAxNDJlYmEzYjNjZDIyYmYyNmQ5YTcvdGFibGU6NGE4NmIyMjk2YWViNDVhMGJjNDYzNmEwMTg1YjRlYTYvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo0YTg2YjIyOTZhZWI0NWEwYmM0NjM2YTAxODViNGVhNl8xLTItMS0xLTMxNQ_9c147c9d-c80d-4ca7-bf9d-109e4c79f032">CDXS</dei:TradingSymbol>
    <dei:SecurityExchangeName
      contextRef="iabf55790ed4443eab26eeb7da854ed44_D20200227-20200227"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjU3ZGI3OWU5YzhiMDQxNmVhMTllY2I1NzIyYTMxMTM3L3NlYzo1N2RiNzllOWM4YjA0MTZlYTE5ZWNiNTcyMmEzMTEzN18xL2ZyYWc6MGViZWY1NTcxZDAxNDJlYmEzYjNjZDIyYmYyNmQ5YTcvdGFibGU6NGE4NmIyMjk2YWViNDVhMGJjNDYzNmEwMTg1YjRlYTYvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo0YTg2YjIyOTZhZWI0NWEwYmM0NjM2YTAxODViNGVhNl8xLTQtMS0xLTMxOA_32b7cabe-85df-4fb0-b4c3-201fba52f1c4">NASDAQ</dei:SecurityExchangeName>
    <dei:EntityEmergingGrowthCompany
      contextRef="iabf55790ed4443eab26eeb7da854ed44_D20200227-20200227"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOjU3ZGI3OWU5YzhiMDQxNmVhMTllY2I1NzIyYTMxMTM3L3NlYzo1N2RiNzllOWM4YjA0MTZlYTE5ZWNiNTcyMmEzMTEzN18xL2ZyYWc6MGViZWY1NTcxZDAxNDJlYmEzYjNjZDIyYmYyNmQ5YTcvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjowZWJlZjU1NzFkMDE0MmViYTNiM2NkMjJiZjI2ZDlhN18yNzQ4Nzc5MDcwOTIz_ff601bc1-6f18-4303-a25e-79e093b77c86">false</dei:EntityEmergingGrowthCompany>
</xbrl>
