Gross to Net Product Sales - Reconciliation of Gross to Net Product Sales (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Sales Revenue Net [Abstract]
Gross product sales	$ 57,521	$ 105,442	$ 100,494	$ 187,271
Government rebates and chargebacks	(20,364)	(29,824)	(31,083)	(49,273)
Data, distribution and GPO fees	(5,704)	(9,542)	(10,046)	(13,470)
Prompt pay discount	(13)	(1,447)	(105)	(2,606)
Product returns allowance	774	998	2,299	491
Net product sales	$ 32,213	$ 65,627	$ 61,559	$ 122,411

Data Distribution and GPO Fees

No definition available.

Name:	sppi_DataDistributionAndGpoFees
Namespace Prefix:	sppi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Government Rebates and Chargebacks

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	sppi_GovernmentRebatesAndChargebacks
Namespace Prefix:	sppi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Aggregate cash discounts given by the entity for goods sold to customers including, but not limited to, early payments of accounts due. For example, selling terms of "2/10, net 30" entitle a customer to a 2% discount for prompt payment within 10 days, otherwise full payment is expected in 30 days. Discounts are a deduction from gross revenue in arriving at net revenue.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1(a))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 1

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SalesDiscountsGoods
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Total deduction from sales during the period arising from goods returned by customers (other than under warranty provisions) and price reductions (allowance, price protection agreements) given by the entity. Returns and allowances are a deduction from gross revenue in arriving at net revenue.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SalesReturnsAndAllowancesGoods
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Aggregate revenue during the period from sale of goods in the normal course of business, before deducting returns, allowances and discounts.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsGross
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Aggregate revenue during the period from the sale of goods in the normal course of business, after deducting returns, allowances and discounts.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SalesRevenueNetAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration