XML 12 R1.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.19.1
Document and Entity Information - shares
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2019
May 02, 2019
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]    
Document Type 10-Q  
Document period end date Mar. 31, 2019  
Amendment flag false  
Document Period Focus Q1  
Document Fiscal Year Focus 2019  
Current fiscal year end date --12-31  
Entity central index key 0001123494  
Entity filer category Accelerated Filer  
Entity registrant name HARVARD BIOSCIENCE INC  
Entity common stock shares outstanding   37,687,608
Trading Symbol HBIO  
Entity emerging growth false  
Entity small business true