Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Revenues:
Research and development programs	$ 27,649	$ 26,793	$ 22,970
Product revenues	16,459	7,173
License fees		5,000	15,000
Total revenues	44,108	38,966	37,970
Costs and operating expenses:
Cost of product revenue	5,311	2,420
Research and development	66,384	45,613	34,227
Sales, general and administrative	57,516	41,426	17,422
Total costs and operating expenses	129,211	89,459	51,649
Loss from operations	(85,103)	(50,493)	(13,679)
Other income (expense):
Interest and other income, net	2,072	871	265
Interest expense	(561)	(642)	(228)
Loss from equity method investment	(1,824)
Gain (loss) from change in fair value of warrant liability	2,284	(3,637)	(2,638)
Total other income (expense)	1,971	(3,408)	(2,601)
Net loss	(83,132)	(53,901)	(16,280)
Accretion of redeemable convertible preferred stock		(60)	(140)
Net loss attributable to Solazyme, Inc. common stockholders	$ (83,132)	$ (53,961)	$ (16,420)
Net loss per share attributable to Solazyme, Inc. common stockholders, basic and diluted	$ (1.37)	$ (1.35)	$ (1.42)
Weighted average number of common shares used in loss per share computation, basic and diluted	60,509,048	39,934,013	11,540,494