Cover - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2022	May 02, 2022
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2022
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-38853
Entity Registrant Name	NGM BIOPHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	26-1679911
Entity Address, Address Line One	333 Oyster Point Boulevard
Entity Address, City or Town	South San Francisco
Entity Address, State or Province	CA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	94080
City Area Code	650
Local Phone Number	243-5555
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share
Trading Symbol	NGM
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		79,257,148
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2022
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Entity Central Index Key	0001426332
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31