Stock-Based Compensation - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)			3 Months Ended		1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014 Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units	Dec. 31, 2013 Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units	Nov. 01, 2013 Archer-Daniels-Midland Company	Jan. 31, 2013 Archer-Daniels-Midland Company	Mar. 31, 2014 Archer-Daniels-Midland Company	Dec. 31, 2013 Archer-Daniels-Midland Company	Mar. 31, 2014 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	0	2,942
Company liability related to common stock subject to repurchase	$ 0	$ 4,000
Number of warrants granted						500,000				1,000,000
Warrant exercise price per share						7.17				13.50
Warrant shares vested							41,666		750,000
Canceled Warrant Shares									250,000
Fees paid in form of shares for use and operation of Clinton Facility					423,278			770,761
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number			0	100,000
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Forfeited in Period			100,000
Number of stock units granted under performance-based restricted stock units			0
Warrant expires date						2019-01-01
Warrant vesting period						5 years