Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss (Unaudited) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Revenues
Revenues	$ 22,520,000	$ 10,500,000	$ 30,780,000	$ 17,764,000
Cost of revenues	21,552,000	8,800,000	29,211,000	14,792,000
Gross profit	968,000	1,700,000	1,569,000	2,972,000
Operating expenses
Sales and marketing expenses	280,000	825,000	844,000	1,659,000
General and administrative expenses	1,478,000	992,000	2,867,000	2,084,000
Research and development expenses	240,000	305,000	433,000	700,000
Impairment on intangible assets	1,878,000		1,878,000
Impairment on goodwill	5,412,000		5,412,000
Total operating expenses	9,288,000	2,122,000	11,434,000	4,443,000
Loss from operations	(8,320,000)	(422,000)	(9,865,000)	(1,471,000)
Other income (expenses)
Impairment on long-term investments			(471,000)
Interest expense, net	(9,000)	(19,000)	(19,000)	(36,000)
Other expenses	(6,000)	(203,000)	(28,000)	(206,000)
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities	(526,000)		948,000
Total other income/(expenses)	(541,000)	(222,000)	430,000	(242,000)
Loss before income tax expense and noncontrolling interests	(8,861,000)	(644,000)	(9,435,000)	(1,713,000)
Income tax expense	(693,000)	(113,000)	(689,000)	(113,000)
Net loss	(9,554,000)	(757,000)	(10,124,000)	(1,826,000)
Net loss/(income) attributable to noncontrolling interests	50,000	(32,000)	55,000	(50,000)
Net loss attributable to ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc.	(9,504,000)	(789,000)	(10,069,000)	(1,876,000)
Net (loss)/income	(9,554,000)	(757,000)	(10,124,000)	(1,826,000)
Foreign currency translation gain/(loss)	(280,000)	326,000	194,000	432,000
Comprehensive loss	(9,834,000)	(431,000)	(9,930,000)	(1,394,000)
Comprehensive loss/(income) attributable to noncontrolling interests	52,000	(34,000)	49,000	(15,000)
Comprehensive loss attributable to ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc.	$ (9,782,000)	$ (465,000)	$ (9,881,000)	$ (1,409,000)
Loss per share
Basic and diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (0.60)	$ (0.07)	$ (0.64)	$ (0.16)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic and diluted (in shares)	15,866,305	11,999,304	15,676,249	11,990,950
Unrelated Parties [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	$ 22,520,000	$ 10,417,000	$ 30,780,000	$ 17,662,000
Related Parties [Member]
Revenues
Revenues		$ 83,000		$ 102,000