Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity - USD ($)	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-In Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Accumulated Deficit	Total BioLife Solutions,Inc.Shareholders’ Equity	Non-Controlling Interest Equity	Preferred Stock [Member]
Beginning Balance - Amount at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 9,859,371	$ 12,447	$ 72,823,398	$ (451)	$ (64,326,923)	$ 8,508,471	$ 1,350,900	$ 0
Beginning Balance - Shares at Dec. 31, 2015		12,448,391						0
Stock-based compensation	776,994		776,994			776,994
Stock options/warrant exercises - Amount	246,280	$ 247	246,033			246,280
Stock options/warrant exercises - Shares		246,164
Stock Issued - on vested RSUs - Amount	0	$ 86	(86)			0
Stock Issued - on vested RSUs - Shares		84,894
Warrants Issued with Debt - WAVI	374,390		374,390			374,390
Stock Issued for Services - Amount	135,000	$ 84	134,916			135,000
Stock Issued for Services - Shares		84,375
Other comprehensive income	451			451		451
Elimination of remaining non-controlling interest equity on deconsolidation	(184,974)						(184,974)
Net loss	(8,041,372)				(6,875,446)	(6,875,446)	(1,165,926)
Ending Balance - Amount at Dec. 31, 2016	3,166,140	$ 12,864	74,355,645	0	(71,202,369)	3,166,140	0
Ending Balance - Shares at Dec. 31, 2016		12,863,824
Cumulative-effect adjustment resulting from adoption of ASU 2016-09	0		27,908		(27,908)	0
Vesting of JV related stock-based compensation	22,317		22,317			22,317
Series A preferred stock issued on conversion of related party note and accrued interest on June 30, 2017, net of stock issuance costs of $9,303 - Amount	4,240,697		4,240,693			4,240,697		$ 4
Series A preferred stock issued on conversion of related party note and accrued interest on June 30, 2017, net of stock issuance costs of $9,303 - Shares								4,250
Stock-based compensation	1,270,203		1,270,203			1,270,203
Stock options/warrant exercises - Amount	3,978,336	$ 1,046	3,977,290			3,978,336
Stock options/warrant exercises - Shares		1,045,719
Stock Issued - on vested RSUs - Amount	0	$ 51	(51)			0
Stock Issued - on vested RSUs - Shares		51,563
Stock Issued for Services - Amount	142,499	$ 60	142,439			142,499
Stock Issued for Services - Shares		60,316
Preferred stock dividends	(212,500)				(212,500)	(212,500)
Net loss	(2,515,106)				(2,515,106)	(2,515,106)
Ending Balance - Amount at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 10,092,586	$ 14,021	$ 84,036,444	$ 0	$ (73,957,883)	$ 10,092,586	$ 0	$ 4
Ending Balance - Shares at Dec. 31, 2017		14,021,422						4,250