Cover - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2022	May 05, 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	001-40502
Entity Registrant Name	Lyell Immunopharma, Inc.
Entity Incorporation State Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	83-1300510
Entity Address Line1	201 Haskins Way
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	695-0677
Security12b Title	Common Stock, $0.0001 par value
Trading Symbol	LYEL
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	true
Entity Ex Transition Period	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		246,135,142
Entity Central Index Key	0001806952
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2022
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Amendment Flag	false