Discontinued operations - RIF and Stock Compensation Expense Acceleration (Details) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024 USD ($)
Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
RIF employee costs	$ 1,546
Former Global Cooling employees	1,925
Total employment related divestiture expenditures	3,471
Severance
Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
RIF employee costs	291
Former Global Cooling employees	0
Total employment related divestiture expenditures	291
Stock Compensation
Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
RIF employee costs	1,255
Former Global Cooling employees	1,925
Total employment related divestiture expenditures	$ 3,180

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of other expenses associated with exit or disposal activities pursuant to an authorized plan. Excludes expenses associated with a discontinued operation or an asset retirement obligation.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of expenses associated with exit or disposal activities pursuant to an authorized plan. Excludes expenses related to a discontinued operation or an asset retirement obligation.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-SubTopic 10
-Topic 230
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482740/230-10-45-28

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 420
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SAB Topic 5.P.4.b.1)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479823/420-10-S99-2

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 420
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 3
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147482047/420-10-45-3

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 420
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SAB Topic 5.P.3)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479823/420-10-S99-1

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of expenses for special or contractual termination benefits provided to current employees involuntarily terminated under a benefit arrangement associated exit or disposal activities pursuant to an authorized plan. Excludes expenses related to one-time termination benefits, a discontinued operation or an asset retirement obligation.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SeveranceCosts1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis=us-gaap_EmployeeSeveranceMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis=blfs_StockCompensationExpenseMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: