Commitment And Contingencies [Line Items]

No definition available.

Name:	szym_CommitmentAndContingenciesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	szym_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Corporate Loan Guarantee

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	szym_CorporateLoanGuarantee
Namespace Prefix:	szym_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Loss Contingency, Number of Action Consolidated

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	szym_LossContingencyNumberofActionConsolidated
Namespace Prefix:	szym_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Exercise price per share or per unit of warrants or rights outstanding.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightExercisePriceOfWarrantsOrRights1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of securities into which the class of warrant or right may be converted. For example, but not limited to, 500,000 warrants may be converted into 1,000,000 shares.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 235

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(i)(2))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 08

-Paragraph i

-Subparagraph 2

-Article 4

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightNumberOfSecuritiesCalledByWarrantsOrRights
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of warrants or rights which entitle the entity to receive future services in exchange for the unvested, forfeitable warrants or rights.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 50

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6784392&loc=d3e188667-122775

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightUnissued
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

For a classified balance sheet, the cumulative difference between the rental income or payments required by a lease agreement and the rental income or expense recognized on a straight-line basis, or other systematic and rational basis more representative of the time pattern in which use or benefit is granted or derived from the leased property, expected to be recognized in income or expense, by the lessor or lessee, respectively, more than one year after the balance sheet date. Such receivable is reduced by allowances attributable to, for instance, credit risk associated with a lessee.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.3(a)(4))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 840

-SubTopic 20

-Section 25

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7501430&loc=d3e39927-112707

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredRentReceivablesNetNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 323

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (a)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6382943&loc=d3e33918-111571

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of rent expense incurred for leased assets, including but not limited to, furniture and equipment, that is not directly or indirectly associated with the manufacture, sale or creation of a product or product line.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LeaseAndRentalExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of judgment or settlement awarded to (against) the entity in respect of litigation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationSettlementAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Minimum amount of purchase arrangement in which the entity has agreed to expend funds to procure goods or services from a supplier.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PurchaseObligation
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis=szym_BrazilianDevelopmentBankMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightAxis=szym_ArcherDanielsMidlandExtensionWarrantMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis=szym_SolazymeBungeJvMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_TypeOfArrangementAxis=szym_ArcherDanielsMidlandCompanyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=szym_RoquetteFreresSaMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis=szym_SolazymeRoquetteJointVentureMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=us-gaap_ParentCompanyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=szym_RoquetteArbitrationMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationStatusAxis=us-gaap_PendingLitigationMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=stpr_DE
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=szym_SecondRoquetteActionMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands, BRL in Millions		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Feb. 19, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Feb. 12, 2015 action	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Feb. 28, 2013 BRL	Jan. 31, 2013 $ / shares shares	Apr. 02, 2012	May. 31, 2011 $ / shares shares	Nov. 03, 2010
Commitment And Contingencies [Line Items]
Deferred rent asset		$ 7,400		$ 7,400			$ 2,500
Rent expense		3,000	$ 2,600	8,700	$ 7,900
Non-cancelable purchase obligations		2,300		2,300
Brazilian Development Bank
Commitment And Contingencies [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity		59,900		59,900				BRL 245.7
Archer Daniels Midland Extension Warrant
Commitment And Contingencies [Line Items]
Additional warrants to be granted under extension of contract \| shares									500,000
Solazyme Bunge JV
Commitment And Contingencies [Line Items]
Warrant granted to purchase shares of common stock \| shares											1,000,000
Warrant exercise price per share \| $ / shares											$ 13.50
Loan guarantee		0		0
Archer-Daniels-Midland Company
Commitment And Contingencies [Line Items]
Warrant granted to purchase shares of common stock \| shares									500,000
Warrant exercise price per share \| $ / shares									$ 7.17
Rent expense		$ 21	$ 100	$ 72	$ 500
Roquette Freres Sa \| Solazyme Roquette Joint Venture
Commitment And Contingencies [Line Items]
Percentage of ownership interest owned												50.00%
Parent Company \| Solazyme Roquette Joint Venture
Commitment And Contingencies [Line Items]
Percentage of ownership interest owned												50.00%
Parent Company \| Solazyme Bunge JV
Commitment And Contingencies [Line Items]
Percentage of ownership interest owned										50.10%
Roquette Arbitration [Member] \| Pending Litigation
Commitment And Contingencies [Line Items]
Payments for legal settlements	$ 2,300
Delaware \| Second Roquette Action \| Pending Litigation
Commitment And Contingencies [Line Items]
Loss Contingency, Number of Action Consolidated \| action						2