Investments in Joint Ventures and Related Party Transactions - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	May. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Apr. 02, 2012
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Amount of capital contributed to joint venture										$ 22,344,000	$ 32,550,000	$ 12,431,000
Capital contribution to unconsolidated joint venture settled with reduction of receivable										5,480,000	15,300,000	0
Loss from equity method investments		$ (4,098,000)	$ (5,916,000)	$ (7,309,000)	$ (5,066,000)	$ (7,724,000)	$ (7,201,000)	$ (4,278,000)	$ (3,834,000)	(22,389,000)	(23,037,000)	(8,237,000)
Vesting of warrants										97,000	556,000	98,000
Gain (loss) from change in fair value of warrant liability		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	688,000	$ 0	688,000	147,000
Discount Rate for Cash Flow										14.00%
Research and development programs		3,348,000	2,266,000	3,433,000	3,784,000	5,149,000	5,936,000	6,917,000	5,043,000	$ 12,831,000	23,045,000	19,788,000
Deferred revenue		4,159,000				1,050,000				4,159,000	1,050,000
Investment in Solazyme Bunge JV		35,910,000				40,934,000				35,910,000	40,934,000
Sales Revenue, Goods, Net		7,039,000	$ 9,133,000	$ 8,307,000	$ 8,821,000	9,353,000	$ 11,623,000	$ 9,022,000	$ 7,348,000	33,300,000	37,346,000	19,962,000
Solazyme Bunge JV
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Amount of capital contributed to joint venture										22,300,000	32,600,000	12,400,000
Capital contribution to unconsolidated joint venture settled with reduction of receivable										5,500,000	15,300,000
Loss from equity method investments											23,000,000	6,800,000
Investment in Solazyme Bunge JV						40,900,000					40,900,000			$ 10,400,000
Vesting of warrants													$ 7,300,000
Future investment in Joint Venture		50,000,000								50,000,000
Research and development programs										6,300,000	13,600,000	8,100,000
Deferred revenue		4,200,000								4,200,000
Investment in Solazyme Bunge JV		35,910,000				40,934,000				35,910,000	40,934,000
Sales Revenue, Goods, Net										1,600,000	2,900,000	$ 0
Related party receivables		12,000				446,000				12,000	446,000
Unbilled revenue		839,000				2,435,000				839,000	2,435,000
Solazyme Bunge JV | Brazilian Development Bank
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Approval for project financing, maximum borrowing		62,000,000								62,000,000
Outstanding balance under the credit facility		$ 53,400,000				$ 91,600,000				$ 53,400,000	$ 91,600,000
Average interest rate on loan (percent)		4.00%								4.00%
Term of the loan										8 years
Solazyme Bunge JV | Guarantees One | Brazilian Development Bank
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Bank Guarantee Percentage Of Loan Amount Available		14.39%								14.39%
Solazyme Bunge JV | Guarantees Two | Brazilian Development Bank
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Bank Guarantee Percentage Of Loan Amount Available		35.71%								35.71%
Parent Company | Solazyme Bunge JV
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of ownership interest owned														50.10%
Bunge Ltd
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Warrant granted to purchase shares of common stock (in shares)	1,000,000
Exercise price of the warrant (in dollars per share)	$ 13.50
Bunge Ltd | Solazyme Bunge JV
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of ownership interest owned														49.90%
Bunge Warrants
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Warrant shares vested, shares		750,000								750,000
Canceled warrant shares		250,000								250,000
Entered joint venture agreement | Bunge Ltd
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of warrants vested in joint venture agreement	25.00%
Commencement of construction of the plant | Bunge Ltd
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of warrants vested in joint venture agreement	50.00%
Oil production goal | Bunge Ltd
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of warrants vested in joint venture agreement	25.00%