<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<xbrl
  xmlns="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance"
  xmlns:dei="http://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2022"
  xmlns:link="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase"
  xmlns:us-gaap="http://fasb.org/us-gaap/2022"
  xmlns:xbrldi="http://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldi"
  xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"
  xmlns:zyme="http://www.zymeworks.com/20230515">
    <link:schemaRef xlink:href="zyme-20230515.xsd" xlink:type="simple"/>
    <context id="duration_2023-05-15_to_2023-05-15">
        <entity>
            <identifier scheme="http://www.sec.gov/CIK">0001937653</identifier>
        </entity>
        <period>
            <startDate>2023-05-15</startDate>
            <endDate>2023-05-15</endDate>
        </period>
    </context>
    <context id="duration_2023-05-15_to_2023-05-15_us-gaap-StatementClassOfStockAxis_us-gaap-CommonStockMember">
        <entity>
            <identifier scheme="http://www.sec.gov/CIK">0001937653</identifier>
            <segment>
                <xbrldi:explicitMember dimension="us-gaap:StatementClassOfStockAxis">us-gaap:CommonStockMember</xbrldi:explicitMember>
            </segment>
        </entity>
        <period>
            <startDate>2023-05-15</startDate>
            <endDate>2023-05-15</endDate>
        </period>
    </context>
    <context id="duration_2023-05-15_to_2023-05-15_us-gaap-StatementClassOfStockAxis_zyme-PreferredStockPurchaseRightsMember">
        <entity>
            <identifier scheme="http://www.sec.gov/CIK">0001937653</identifier>
            <segment>
                <xbrldi:explicitMember dimension="us-gaap:StatementClassOfStockAxis">zyme:PreferredStockPurchaseRightsMember</xbrldi:explicitMember>
            </segment>
        </entity>
        <period>
            <startDate>2023-05-15</startDate>
            <endDate>2023-05-15</endDate>
        </period>
    </context>
    <dei:NoTradingSymbolFlag
      contextRef="duration_2023-05-15_to_2023-05-15_us-gaap-StatementClassOfStockAxis_zyme-PreferredStockPurchaseRightsMember"
      id="Hidden_dei_NoTradingSymbolFlag_duration_2023-05-15_to_2023-05-15_us-gaap-StatementClassOfStockAxis_zyme-PreferredStockPurchaseRightsMember">true</dei:NoTradingSymbolFlag>
    <dei:EntityCentralIndexKey
      contextRef="duration_2023-05-15_to_2023-05-15"
      id="Hidden_dei_EntityCentralIndexKey_duration_2023-05-15_to_2023-05-15">0001937653</dei:EntityCentralIndexKey>
    <dei:AmendmentFlag
      contextRef="duration_2023-05-15_to_2023-05-15"
      id="Hidden_dei_AmendmentFlag_duration_2023-05-15_to_2023-05-15">false</dei:AmendmentFlag>
    <dei:DocumentType contextRef="duration_2023-05-15_to_2023-05-15">8-K</dei:DocumentType>
    <dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate contextRef="duration_2023-05-15_to_2023-05-15">2023-05-15</dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate>
    <dei:EntityRegistrantName contextRef="duration_2023-05-15_to_2023-05-15">Zymeworks Inc.</dei:EntityRegistrantName>
    <dei:EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode contextRef="duration_2023-05-15_to_2023-05-15">DE</dei:EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode>
    <dei:EntityFileNumber contextRef="duration_2023-05-15_to_2023-05-15">001-41535</dei:EntityFileNumber>
    <dei:EntityTaxIdentificationNumber contextRef="duration_2023-05-15_to_2023-05-15">88-3099146</dei:EntityTaxIdentificationNumber>
    <dei:EntityAddressAddressLine1 contextRef="duration_2023-05-15_to_2023-05-15">108 Patriot Drive, Suite A</dei:EntityAddressAddressLine1>
    <dei:EntityAddressCityOrTown contextRef="duration_2023-05-15_to_2023-05-15">Middletown</dei:EntityAddressCityOrTown>
    <dei:EntityAddressStateOrProvince contextRef="duration_2023-05-15_to_2023-05-15">DE</dei:EntityAddressStateOrProvince>
    <dei:EntityAddressPostalZipCode contextRef="duration_2023-05-15_to_2023-05-15">19709</dei:EntityAddressPostalZipCode>
    <dei:CityAreaCode contextRef="duration_2023-05-15_to_2023-05-15">302</dei:CityAreaCode>
    <dei:LocalPhoneNumber contextRef="duration_2023-05-15_to_2023-05-15">274-8744</dei:LocalPhoneNumber>
    <dei:WrittenCommunications contextRef="duration_2023-05-15_to_2023-05-15">false</dei:WrittenCommunications>
    <dei:SolicitingMaterial contextRef="duration_2023-05-15_to_2023-05-15">false</dei:SolicitingMaterial>
    <dei:PreCommencementTenderOffer contextRef="duration_2023-05-15_to_2023-05-15">false</dei:PreCommencementTenderOffer>
    <dei:PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer contextRef="duration_2023-05-15_to_2023-05-15">false</dei:PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer>
    <dei:Security12bTitle contextRef="duration_2023-05-15_to_2023-05-15_us-gaap-StatementClassOfStockAxis_us-gaap-CommonStockMember">Common Stock, par value $0.00001 per share</dei:Security12bTitle>
    <dei:TradingSymbol contextRef="duration_2023-05-15_to_2023-05-15_us-gaap-StatementClassOfStockAxis_us-gaap-CommonStockMember">ZYME</dei:TradingSymbol>
    <dei:SecurityExchangeName contextRef="duration_2023-05-15_to_2023-05-15_us-gaap-StatementClassOfStockAxis_us-gaap-CommonStockMember">NASDAQ</dei:SecurityExchangeName>
    <dei:Security12bTitle contextRef="duration_2023-05-15_to_2023-05-15_us-gaap-StatementClassOfStockAxis_zyme-PreferredStockPurchaseRightsMember">Preferred Stock Purchase Rights</dei:Security12bTitle>
    <dei:SecurityExchangeName contextRef="duration_2023-05-15_to_2023-05-15_us-gaap-StatementClassOfStockAxis_zyme-PreferredStockPurchaseRightsMember">NASDAQ</dei:SecurityExchangeName>
    <dei:EntityEmergingGrowthCompany contextRef="duration_2023-05-15_to_2023-05-15">false</dei:EntityEmergingGrowthCompany>
</xbrl>
