Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Sponsored Research and License Agreements (Details) - USD ($)	1 Months Ended			3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Collaborative arrangement
Collaborations
Maximum amount of contingent payments receivable							$ 532,400,000
Specified Development Events \| Collaborative arrangement
Collaborations
Maximum amount of contingent payments receivable							145,500,000
Specified Regulatory Events \| Collaborative arrangement
Collaborations
Maximum amount of contingent payments receivable							345,600,000
Specified Product Launch Events \| Collaborative arrangement
Collaborations
Maximum amount of contingent payments receivable							41,300,000
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
Collaborations
Noncreditable and nonrefundable upfront payment by BMS			$ 30,000,000
Revenue recognized					$ 3,800,000			$ 13,400,000
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company \| Research Activities
Collaborations
Revenue recognized					$ 0			$ 290,000
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company \| Minimum
Collaborations
Contingent payments							$ 309,000,000
Ber Gen Bio A S
Collaborations
Contingent payments		$ 1,700,000
Collaborative payment received	$ 3,300,000
Revenue recognized				$ 3,300,000		$ 3,700,000
Payment received from exercise of option rights		$ 2,000,000