Description of Business	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2016
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Description of Business	Description of Business Capnia, Inc. (the “Company”) was incorporated in the State of Delaware on August 25, 1999, and is located in Redwood City, California. The Company develops and commercializes neonatology devices and diagnostics. The Company also has a therapeutics platform based on its proprietary technology for precision metering of gas flow. On September 8, 2015, the Company established NeoForce, Inc. ("NFI"), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company and through NFI, acquired substantially all of the assets of an unrelated privately held company NeoForce Group, Inc.("NeoForce"). NFI develops innovative pulmonary resuscitation solutions for the inpatient and ambulatory neonatal markets. On April 27, 2015, the Company established Capnia UK Limited, a wholly owned foreign subsidiary in the United Kingdom. Capnia UK Limited began sales and marketing operations in the first quarter of 2016. The Company's most recent product to launch commercially is Serenz® Allergy Relief, or Serenz, which has a CE Mark certification for sale in the European Union, or E.U. Serenz is a proprietary handheld device that delivers non-inhaled CO₂ topically to the nasal mucosa. Serenz is used only when needed, and does not need to be used on a scheduled basis. Pilot commercial sales of Serenz began in the U.K. and Ireland in the second quarter of 2016. The Company is also selling the CoSense® End-Tidal Carbon Monoxide (ETCO) Monitor, or CoSense, which measures ETCO and aids in the detection of excessive hemolysis, a condition in which red blood cells degrade rapidly. When present in neonates with jaundice, excessive hemolysis is a dangerous condition which can lead to adverse neurological outcomes. CoSense is 510(k) cleared for sale in the U.S. and has CE Mark certification for sale in the E.U. In addition, through the Company's wholly owned subsidiary NFI, the Company also develops and globally markets assets relating to innovative pulmonary resuscitation solutions for the inpatient and ambulatory neonatal markets. NFI’s primary product is the NeoPip T-piece resuscitator and related consumable, which delivers consistent pre-set inspiratory pressure and positive end-expiratory pressures. Other NFI products include temperature probes, scales, surgical tables and patient surfaces.

Description of Business

Capnia, Inc. (the “Company”) was incorporated in the State of Delaware on August 25, 1999, and is located in Redwood City, California. The Company develops and commercializes neonatology devices and diagnostics. The Company also has a therapeutics platform based on its proprietary technology for precision metering of gas flow.

On September 8, 2015, the Company established NeoForce, Inc. ("NFI"), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company and through NFI, acquired substantially all of the assets of an unrelated privately held company NeoForce Group, Inc.("NeoForce"). NFI develops innovative pulmonary resuscitation solutions for the inpatient and ambulatory neonatal markets.

On April 27, 2015, the Company established Capnia UK Limited, a wholly owned foreign subsidiary in the United Kingdom. Capnia UK Limited began sales and marketing operations in the first quarter of 2016.

The Company's most recent product to launch commercially is Serenz® Allergy Relief, or Serenz, which has a CE Mark certification for sale in the European Union, or E.U. Serenz is a proprietary handheld device that delivers non-inhaled CO₂ topically to the nasal mucosa. Serenz is used only when needed, and does not need to be used on a scheduled basis. Pilot commercial sales of Serenz began in the U.K. and Ireland in the second quarter of 2016.

The Company is also selling the CoSense® End-Tidal Carbon Monoxide (ETCO) Monitor, or CoSense, which

measures ETCO and aids in the detection of excessive hemolysis, a condition in which red blood cells degrade rapidly. When present in neonates with jaundice, excessive hemolysis is a dangerous condition which can lead to adverse neurological outcomes. CoSense is 510(k) cleared for sale in the U.S. and has CE Mark certification for sale in the E.U. In addition, through the Company's wholly owned subsidiary NFI, the Company also develops and globally markets assets relating to innovative pulmonary resuscitation solutions for the inpatient and ambulatory neonatal markets. NFI’s primary product is the NeoPip T-piece resuscitator and related consumable, which delivers consistent pre-set inspiratory pressure and positive end-expiratory pressures. Other NFI products include temperature probes, scales, surgical tables and patient surfaces.