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 Vested Options (Detail)

Common Stock - Summary of Stock Options Outstanding Regarding Number of Ordinary Shares Issuable upon Exercise of Vested 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 Vested Options	685,741
Exercise Price Range, Weighted Average Vested Price	$ 10.95
Exercise Price Range, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	5 years
Range one [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Exercise Price Range, Number of Vested Options	34,000
Exercise Price Range, Weighted Average Vested Price	$ 2.69
Exercise Price Range, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	1 year 9 months 26 days
Exercise Price Range, Lower Range Limit	$ 2.69
Exercise Price Range, Upper Range Limit	$ 2.85
Range two [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Exercise Price Range, Number of Vested Options	229,125
Exercise Price Range, Weighted Average Vested Price	$ 3.00
Exercise Price Range, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	2 years
Exercise Price Range, Lower Range Limit	$ 2.86
Exercise Price Range, Upper Range Limit	$ 4.83
Range three [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Exercise Price Range, Number of Vested Options	33,600
Exercise Price Range, Weighted Average Vested Price	$ 8.71
Exercise Price Range, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	4 years 7 months 21 days
Exercise Price Range, Lower Range Limit	$ 4.84
Exercise Price Range, Upper Range Limit	$ 11.94
Range four [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Exercise Price Range, Number of Vested Options	39,251
Exercise Price Range, Weighted Average Vested Price	$ 11.95
Exercise Price Range, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	9 years 2 months 9 days
Exercise Price Range, Lower Range Limit	$ 11.95
Exercise Price Range, Upper Range Limit	$ 11.99
Range five [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Exercise Price Range, Number of Vested Options	30,441
Exercise Price Range, Weighted Average Vested Price	$ 12.43
Exercise Price Range, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	8 years 18 days
Exercise Price Range, Lower Range Limit	$ 12.00
Exercise Price Range, Upper Range Limit	$ 12.81
Range six [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Exercise Price Range, Number of Vested Options	54,819
Exercise Price Range, Weighted Average Vested Price	$ 13.00
Exercise Price Range, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	8 years 4 months 6 days
Exercise Price Range, Lower Range Limit	$ 12.82
Exercise Price Range, Upper Range Limit	$ 13.06
Range seven [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Exercise Price Range, Number of Vested Options	30,507
Exercise Price Range, Weighted Average Vested Price	$ 14.39
Exercise Price Range, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	7 years 29 days
Exercise Price Range, Lower Range Limit	$ 13.07
Exercise Price Range, Upper Range Limit	$ 15.74
Range eight [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Exercise Price Range, Number of Vested Options	90,563
Exercise Price Range, Weighted Average Vested Price	$ 15.97
Exercise Price Range, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	6 years 11 months 12 days
Exercise Price Range, Lower Range Limit	$ 15.75
Exercise Price Range, Upper Range Limit	$ 16.40
Range nine [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Exercise Price Range, Number of Vested Options	67,835
Exercise Price Range, Weighted Average Vested Price	$ 18.08
Exercise Price Range, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	5 years 5 months 5 days
Exercise Price Range, Lower Range Limit	$ 16.41
Exercise Price Range, Upper Range Limit	$ 21.67
Range ten [Member]
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Exercise Price Range, Number of Vested Options	75,600
Exercise Price Range, Weighted Average Vested Price	$ 22.28
Exercise Price Range, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	5 years 11 months 1 day
Exercise Price Range, Lower Range Limit	$ 21.68
Exercise Price Range, Upper Range Limit	$ 22.28