Stock-Based Compensation Plans - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)			1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Jan. 31, 2013 Archer Daniels Midland Company	Mar. 31, 2013 Solazyme Bunge Jv	May 31, 2011 Solazyme Bunge Jv
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Common stock subject to repurchase	24,151	34,832
Company liability related to common stock subject to repurchase	$ 30,000	$ 39,000
Number of warrants granted			500,000		1,000,000
Warrant exercise price per share of common stock			7.17		13.50
Warrant shares vested				750,000
Warrant expires date			2019-01
Warrant vesting period			5 years