Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Revenues
Revenues	$ 17,042	$ 13,523	$ 47,822	$ 31,287
Cost of revenues	16,649	12,163	45,860	26,955
Gross profit	393	1,360	1,962	4,332
Operating expenses
Sales and marketing expenses	239	740	1,083	2,399
General and administrative expenses	1,713	2,318	4,580	4,402
Research and development expenses	289	312	722	1,012
Impairment on intangible assets	1,502		3,380
Impairment on goodwill			5,289
Total operating expenses	3,743	3,370	15,054	7,813
Loss from operations	(3,350)	(2,010)	(13,092)	(3,481)
Other income (expenses)
Impairment on long-term investments			(460)
Interest expense, net	(6)	(34)	(25)	(70)
Other expenses	(2)	(2)	(30)	(208)
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities	501		1,449
Total other income/(expenses)	493	(36)	934	(278)
Loss before income tax expense and noncontrolling interests	(2,857)	(2,046)	(12,158)	(3,759)
Income tax expense	(116)	(2)	(805)	(115)
Net loss	(2,973)	(2,048)	(12,963)	(3,874)
Net loss/(income) attributable to noncontrolling interests	20	(39)	75	(89)
Net loss attributable to ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc.	(2,953)	(2,087)	(12,888)	(3,963)
Net loss	(2,973)	(2,048)	(12,963)	(3,874)
Foreign currency translation (loss)/gain	(36)	340	24	772
Comprehensive loss	(3,009)	(1,708)	(12,939)	(3,102)
Comprehensive loss/(income) attributable to noncontrolling interests	20	(42)	69	(57)
Comprehensive loss attributable to ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc.	$ (2,989)	$ (1,750)	$ (12,870)	$ (3,159)
Loss per share
Basic and diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (0.19)	$ (0.17)	$ (0.82)	$ (0.33)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic and diluted (in shares)	15,915,501	12,074,304	15,756,876	12,019,040
Unrelated Parties [Member]
Revenues
Revenues	$ 17,042	$ 13,509	$ 47,822	$ 31,171
Related Parties [Member]
Revenues
Revenues		$ 14		$ 116