Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Feb. 23, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	GenMark Diagnostics, Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	0001487371
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2018
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2017
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		55,166,687
Entity Public Float			$ 334,644,000