Cover Page - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Feb. 22, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Document Annual Report	true
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2021
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-38068
Entity Registrant Name	ZYMEWORKS INC.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	Z4
Entity Tax Identification Number	98-1398788
Entity Address, Address Line Two	Suite 800
Entity Address, Address Line One	114 East 4th Avenue
Entity Address, City or Town	Vancouver
Entity Address, State or Province	BC
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	V5T 1G4
City Area Code	604
Local Phone Number	678-1388
Title of 12(b) Security	Common shares, no par value per share
Trading Symbol	ZYME
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
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
ICFR Auditor Attestation Flag	true
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 1,590.8
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		57,736,293
Documents Incorporated by Reference	Portions of the registrant’s definitive proxy statement in connection with the registrant’s 2022 annual meeting of shareholders, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) subsequent to the date hereof, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K. Such proxy statement will be filed with the SEC not later than 120 days following the end of the registrant’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2021.
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2021
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Entity Central Index Key	0001403752