Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Apr. 29, 2020
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2020
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-38311
Entity Registrant Name	Denali Therapeutics Inc.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	46-3872213
Entity Address, Address Line One	161 Oyster Point Blvd
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	866-8548
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
Trading Symbol	DNLI
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 (shares)		105,628,182
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Central Index Key	0001714899
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31