Organization, Basis of Presentation, and Summary of Select Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Taxes [Abstract]
Deferred income tax benefit	$ 2,862,000			$ 2,862,000			$ 3,280,000
Deferred income tax benefit, federal	2,442,000			2,442,000			2,800,000
Deferred income tax benefit, state taxes	420,000			420,000			480,000
Taxable gain on sale of subsidiary shares	10,300,000			10,300,000
Tax payable on sale of subsidiary shares	4,100,000			4,100,000
Deferred tax liability on temporary taxable difference	4,700,000			4,700,000
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Trade accounts receivable	612,900			612,900			575,900
Grants receivable	678,300			678,300			539,300
Allowance for doubtful accounts	100,500			100,500			116,800
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Foreign currency translation (loss)/gain	(74,831)		28,857	(182,071)		177,294
Unrealized gain (loss)	1,120		0	(1,530)		0
Foreign currency transaction loss included in other income/(expense)			$ 28,857			$ 177,294
Equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Equipment useful life				36 months
Equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Equipment useful life				120 months
Asterias Biotherapeutics [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
BioTime Ownership (in hundredths)	70.60%			70.60%
ES Cell International Pte., Ltd. [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
BioTime Ownership (in hundredths)	100.00%			100.00%
OncoCyte Corporation [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
BioTime Ownership (in hundredths)	75.30%	[1]		75.30%	[1]
OrthoCyte Corporation [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
BioTime Ownership (in hundredths)	100.00%			100.00%
Cell Cure Neurosciences, Ltd. [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
BioTime Ownership (in hundredths)	62.50%			62.50%
ReCyte Therapeutics, Inc. [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
BioTime Ownership (in hundredths)	94.80%			94.80%
BioTime Asia, Limited [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
BioTime Ownership (in hundredths)	81.00%			81.00%
LifeMap Sciences, Inc. [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
BioTime Ownership (in hundredths)	74.52%			74.52%
LifeMap Sciences, Ltd. [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
BioTime Ownership (in hundredths)	(100.00%)			(100.00%)
LifeMap Solutions, Inc. [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
BioTime Ownership (in hundredths)	(100.00%)	[1]		(100.00%)	[1]
Stock Options [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Anti-dilutive shares excluded from computation of diluted loss per share (in shares)	5,424,426		4,394,634	5,424,426		4,394,634
Warrants [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Anti-dilutive shares excluded from computation of diluted loss per share (in shares)	9,195,002		1,751,615	9,195,002		1,751,615
Treasury Shares [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Anti-dilutive shares excluded from computation of diluted loss per share (in shares)	5,398,542		2,315,286	5,398,542		2,315,286

[1] LifeMap Sciences, Ltd. and LifeMap Solutions, Inc. are wholly-owned subsidiaries of LifeMap Sciences, Inc.