Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net (loss) income	$ (12,148)	$ 2,484	$ 3,027
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	6,048	2,492	1,242
Amortization of operating lease-right-of use assets	3,182	3,167	0
Allowance for credit losses	269	102	0
Stock-based compensation	22,048	16,595	6,586
Gain on equity method investment	0	0	(40)
Loss on disposal of property and equipment	7	0	0
Loss on lease exit cost		0	283
Provision for excess and obsolete inventory	1,468	756	488
Gain on investments, accretion, and amortization, net	(6,661)	(77)	0
Interest expenses for accretion of the legal settlement liabilities	1,577	2,178	1,690
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Trade accounts receivable	(7,332)	(19,744)	(12,367)
Inventories	4,286	(17,653)	(7,068)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(9,515)	(19,362)	(6,252)
Trade accounts payable	(1,784)	1,862	(256)
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	729	7,470	10,978
Legal settlement liabilities	(298)	373	(3,693)
Deferred revenue	6,520	9,411	10,012
Lease liabilities	(3,115)	(2,285)	0
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	5,281	(12,231)	4,630
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of marketable securities	(175,935)	(44,454)	0
Maturities of marketable securities	132,000	0	0
Purchase of property and equipment	(4,648)	(9,748)	(4,364)
Acquisition of business	(44,896)	0	(17,000)
Purchase of intangible assets (patents)	(179)	(120)	0
Payment for investment	0	(1,587)	0
Payment for additional investment in Cytek Japan, net of cash acquired	(236)	0	371
Net cash used in investing activities	(93,894)	(55,909)	(20,993)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayment of Paycheck Protection Program loan	0	0	(2,772)
Proceeds from initial public offering, net of underwriting discounts and commissions and other offering costs	0	0	215,689
Payment for repurchase of shares	(44,151)	0	0
Proceeds from loan	0	2,983	0
Repayment of loan	(565)	(50)	0
Proceeds from Employee Stock Purchase Plan	1,855	1,585	0
Payments for taxes related to net share settlement of equity awards	(419)	(209)	0
Proceeds from issuance of common stock under employee stock plans	1,468	1,204	642
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(41,812)	5,513	213,559
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	(1,445)	(2,491)	1,303
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash:
Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	(131,870)	(65,118)	198,499
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period	299,500	364,618	166,119
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	167,630	299,500	364,618
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for taxes	5,305	10,390	2,863
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Fixed asset purchases in accounts payable at period end	40	67	134
Intangible asset in accrued expenses at period end	510	30	93
Accrued excise taxes for share repurchase	320	0	0
Stock option exercise in other receivables at period end	$ 0	$ 96	$ 0