Achieve Life Sciences, Inc. Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Common Stock - Summary of Stock Options Outstanding Regarding Number of Ordinary Shares Issuable upon Exercise of Outstanding Options (Detail)

Common Stock - Summary of Stock Options Outstanding Regarding Number of Ordinary Shares Issuable upon Exercise of Outstanding Options (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Exercise Price Range, Number of Outstanding Options	1,006,991
Exercise Price Range, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 11.39
Exercise Price Range, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	6 years 2 months 16 days
Range one [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Exercise Price Range, Lower Range Limit	$ 2.69
Exercise Price Range, Upper Range Limit	$ 2.85
Exercise Price Range, Number of Outstanding Options	34,000
Exercise Price Range, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 2.69
Exercise Price Range, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	1 year 9 months 26 days
Range two [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Exercise Price Range, Lower Range Limit	$ 2.86
Exercise Price Range, Upper Range Limit	$ 4.83
Exercise Price Range, Number of Outstanding Options	229,125
Exercise Price Range, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 3.00
Exercise Price Range, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	2 years
Range three [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Exercise Price Range, Lower Range Limit	$ 4.84
Exercise Price Range, Upper Range Limit	$ 11.94
Exercise Price Range, Number of Outstanding Options	98,879
Exercise Price Range, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 9.30
Exercise Price Range, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	7 years 9 months 11 days
Range four [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Exercise Price Range, Lower Range Limit	$ 11.95
Exercise Price Range, Upper Range Limit	$ 11.99
Exercise Price Range, Number of Outstanding Options	171,271
Exercise Price Range, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 11.95
Exercise Price Range, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	9 years 2 months 9 days
Range five [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Exercise Price Range, Lower Range Limit	$ 12.00
Exercise Price Range, Upper Range Limit	$ 12.81
Exercise Price Range, Number of Outstanding Options	37,175
Exercise Price Range, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 12.42
Exercise Price Range, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	8 years 1 month 13 days
Range six [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Exercise Price Range, Lower Range Limit	$ 12.82
Exercise Price Range, Upper Range Limit	$ 13.06
Exercise Price Range, Number of Outstanding Options	114,400
Exercise Price Range, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 13.00
Exercise Price Range, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	8 years 4 months 6 days
Range seven [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Exercise Price Range, Lower Range Limit	$ 13.07
Exercise Price Range, Upper Range Limit	$ 15.74
Exercise Price Range, Number of Outstanding Options	46,676
Exercise Price Range, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 14.18
Exercise Price Range, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	7 years 6 months 29 days
Range eight [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Exercise Price Range, Lower Range Limit	$ 15.75
Exercise Price Range, Upper Range Limit	$ 16.40
Exercise Price Range, Number of Outstanding Options	120,750
Exercise Price Range, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 15.97
Exercise Price Range, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	6 years 11 months 12 days
Range nine [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Exercise Price Range, Lower Range Limit	$ 16.41
Exercise Price Range, Upper Range Limit	$ 21.67
Exercise Price Range, Number of Outstanding Options	79,115
Exercise Price Range, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 17.91
Exercise Price Range, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	5 years 8 months 1 day
Range ten [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Exercise Price Range, Lower Range Limit	$ 21.68
Exercise Price Range, Upper Range Limit	$ 22.28
Exercise Price Range, Number of Outstanding Options	75,600
Exercise Price Range, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$ 22.28
Exercise Price Range, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life	5 years 11 months 1 day