Cover Page - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Oct. 31, 2019
Cover page.
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2019
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-36042
Entity Registrant Name	INTREXON CORPORATION
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	VA
Entity Tax Identification Number	26-0084895
Entity Address, Address Line One	20374 Seneca Meadows Parkway
Entity Address, City or Town	Germantown,
Entity Address, State or Province	MD
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	20876
City Area Code	301
Local Phone Number	556-9900
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, no par value
Trading Symbol	XON
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		162,682,637
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Entity Central Index Key	0001356090
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31