Stock-Based Compensation - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended					1 Months Ended			12 Months Ended															3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended					12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2013 Solazyme Bunge JV [Member]	May 31, 2011 Solazyme Bunge JV [Member]	Jun. 30, 2010 Executive Placement Group [Member]	Nov. 30, 2013 Archer-Daniels-Midland Company [Member]	Jan. 31, 2013 Archer-Daniels-Midland Company [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Archer-Daniels-Midland Company [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Options to purchase common stock	Dec. 31, 2012 Options to purchase common stock	Dec. 31, 2011 Options to purchase common stock	Dec. 31, 2013 Restricted Stock	Dec. 31, 2013 Restricted Stock Units [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Restricted Stock Units [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Restricted Stock Units [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Restricted Stock Units [Member] Maximum [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Restricted Stock Units [Member] Minimum [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Performance-based restricted stock units [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Performance-based restricted stock units [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Performance-based restricted stock units [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Modified Stock Option Awards	Dec. 31, 2013 2004 Equity Incentive Plan [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 2004 Equity Incentive Plan [Member] Options to purchase common stock	Dec. 31, 2013 2011 Equity Incentive Plan [Member]	May 26, 2011 2011 Equity Incentive Plan [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 2011 Equity Incentive Plan [Member] Maximum [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 2011 Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 2011 Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 2011 Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Member]	May 26, 2011 2011 Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Non Employee Stock Awards	Dec. 31, 2012 Non Employee Stock Awards	Dec. 31, 2011 Non Employee Stock Awards
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Additional shares reserved for provision																								2,000,000	3,051,777			610,355
Second Amended and Restated 2004 Equity Incentive Plan termination date																							Jan. 04, 2014
Second Amended and Restated 2004 Equity Incentive Plan actual termination date upon IPO																							May 25, 2011
Shares available for issuance																									5,604,609	7,000,000		1,709,950			750,000
Stock options issued, expiry period																											10 years
Exercise price of stock options as percentage of estimated fair value of shares on date of grant																									100.00%
Vesting period																	3 years 10 months 24 days	6 months							4 years
Lower of the fair market value of a share of common stock																												85.00%
Stock-based compensation expense	$ 18,653,000	$ 15,402,000	$ 10,923,000							$ 17,300,000	$ 13,200,000	$ 6,500,000		$ 5,500,000	$ 1,500,000	$ 600,000			$ (34,000)	$ 800,000	$ 400,000	$ 300,000						$ 600,000	$ 300,000	$ 400,000		$ 1,400,000	$ 2,200,000	$ 4,400,000
Common stock subject to repurchase	2,942	34,832
Company liability related to common stock subject to repurchase	4,000	39,000
Weighted-average grant date fair value of options granted	$ 5.07	$ 6.46	$ 6.15
Total intrinsic value of options exercised	7,500,000	7,400,000	6,500,000
Total fair value of options vested	12,900,000	11,100,000	3,300,000
Income tax benefit recognized in stock-based compensation expense	0	0	0
Unrecognized stock-based compensation cost related to nonvested stock options										18,400,000																						1,100,000
Stock-based compensation cost not yet recognized period										1 year 6 months			4 months 24 days																			1 year 7 months 6 days
Unrecognized stock-based compensation costs													27,000
Restricted stock awards granted														1,785,157	82,000	140,000			0	100,000	60,000
Weighted-average grant date fair value of awards granted														$ 9.56	$ 10.66	$ 23.56			$ 0.00	$ 9.46	$ 23.56
Vested restricted stock units														165,333					60,000
Unvested performance stock units														1,771,907					100,000
Share based compensation accelerated vesting shares																			15,000
Net decrease of stock-based compensation expense																			$ 100,000
Warrants issued in exchange for services rendered						5,000
Common stock at an exercise price					13.50	2.35		7.17
Number of warrants granted					1,000,000			500,000
Warrant shares vested				750,000					16,666
Warrant expires date								2019-01
Warrant vesting period								5 years
Fees paid in form of shares for use and operation of Clinton Facility							423,278	347,483	770,761