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Major Customers, Partnerships and Strategic Alliances - California Institute for Regenerative Medicine - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended			1 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	May 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2009	May 31, 2013
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items]
Receivables from sale against the grant funded to entity from sale of product	Two times the amount Sangamo receives in funding under the agreement.
Research grants	$ 1,990,000us-gaap_RevenueFromGrants	$ 2,455,000us-gaap_RevenueFromGrants	$ 3,469,000us-gaap_RevenueFromGrants
California Institute for Regenerative Medicine [Member]
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items]
Funds due under the agreement				5,600,000	14,500,000
Expected amount to be received for research and development					5,200,000
Agreement to receive				4 years	4 years
Agreement date	Oct. 31, 2009
Collaboration agreement related costs and expenses	1,800,000	1,800,000	1,200,000
California Institute for Regenerative Medicine [Member] \| License agreement terms [Member]
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items]
Research grants	0	1,200,000	1,200,000
California Institute for Regenerative Medicine [Member] \| Beta-thalassemia [Member]
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items]
Funds due under the agreement						6,400,000
Research grants	1,400,000	100,000
Collaboration agreement related costs and expenses	$ 1,100,000	$ 400,000
Agreement to receive						4 years