Statement of Financial Position [Abstract] Assets Assets [Abstract] Current assets: Current assets: [Abstract] Cash and cash equivalents Term deposit Accounts receivable, net Other receivables, net Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of capitalized payments for supplies which will be consumed in operations within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer, and deposits to suppliers to provide certain assurance of performance by the entity pursuant to the terms of a written or oral agreement, which will be either consumed in operations or refunded within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer. Prepayment and deposit to suppliers Due from related parties Other current assets Deferred tax assets-current Total current assets Investment in and advance to equity investment affiliates Property and equipment, net Intangible assets, net Carrying value of amounts transferred to third parties for security purposes that are expected to be returned or applied towards payment after one year or beyond the operating cycle, if longer and the prepayment for purchasing of software technology. Deposit and prepayment for purchasing of software technology Goodwill Deferred tax assets-non current Total Assets Liabilities and Equity Liabilities and Equity [Abstract] Current liabilities: Current liabilities: [Abstract] Short term bank loan * Accounts payable * Advances from customers * Total of the carrying values as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred through that date and payable for obligations related to services received from employees and other service providers. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer). Accrued payroll and other accruals * Due to noncontrolling interest of VIE * Taxes payable * Other payables * Total current liabilities Long-term liabilities: Long-term liabilities: [Abstract] Deferred tax liability-non current * Long-term borrowing from director Total Liabilities Equity: Equity: [Abstract] ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc.’s stockholders’ equity ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc.’s stockholders’ equity [Abstract] Common stock (US$0.001 par value; authorized 50,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 22,376,540 shares at June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013) Additional paid-in capital Statutory reserves Retained earnings Accumulated other comprehensive income Total ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc.’s stockholders’ equity Noncontrolling interests Total equity Total Liabilities and Equity Common stock, par value (in Dollars per share) Common stock, shares authorized Common stock, shares issued Common stock, shares outstanding Income Statement [Abstract] Sales Sales [Abstract] From unrelated parties From related parties Cost of sales Gross margin Operating expenses Operating expenses [Abstract] Selling expenses General and administrative expenses Research and development expenses (Loss)/income from operations Other income (expenses) Other income (expenses) [Abstract] Interest income Interest expense Other expenses (Loss)/income before income tax expense, equity method investments and noncontrolling interests Income tax expense Sum of operating profit and non-operating income or expense after income taxes, before Income or Loss from equity method investments, extraordinary items, and non-controlling interest. (Loss)/income before equity method investments and noncontrolling interests Share of losses in equity investment affiliates Net (loss)/income Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests Net (loss)/income attributable to ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc. Net (loss)/income Foreign currency translation (loss)/gain Comprehensive (Loss)/income Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests Comprehensive (loss)/income attributable to ChinaNet Online Holdings, Inc. (Loss)/earnings per share (Loss)/earnings per share [Abstract] (Loss)/earnings per common share (Loss)/earnings per common share [Abstract] Basic (in Dollars per share) Diluted (in Dollars per share) Weighted average number of common shares outstanding: Weighted average number of common shares outstanding: [Abstract] Basic (in Shares) Diluted (in Shares) Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract] Cash flows from operating activities Cash flows from operating activities [Abstract] Net (loss)/income Adjustments to reconcile net (loss)/income to net cash used in operating activities Adjustments to reconcile net (loss)/income to net cash used in operating activities [Abstract] Depreciation and amortization Share-based compensation expenses Allowances for doubtful accounts Share of losses in equity investment affiliates Deferred taxes Changes in operating assets and liabilities Changes in operating assets and liabilities [Abstract] Accounts receivable Other receivables The increase (decrease) during the reporting period on capitalized payments for suppliers and deposit to suppliers that is expected to be consumed or refunded within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer. Prepayment and deposit to suppliers Due from related parties Other current assets Accounts payable Advances from customers The increase (decrease) during the reporting period in the aggregate amount of liabilities accrued and payable to employees and other service providers for services received that are used in an entity's business. Accrued payroll and other accruals Other payables Taxes payable Net cash used in operating activities Cash flows from investing activities Cash flows from investing activities [Abstract] Purchases of vehicles and office equipment Prepayment/deposit for purchasing of software technology Repayment of short-term loan from unrelated entities Payment for acquisition of VIEs Net cash used in investing activities Cash flows from financing activities Cash flows from financing activities [Abstract] Short-term loan from noncontrolling interest of VIE Net cash provided by financing activities Effect of exchange rate fluctuation on cash and cash equivalents Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information [Abstract] Income taxes paid Interest expense paid Non-cash transactions: Non-cash transactions: [Abstract] Restricted stock and options granted for future service Disclosure Text Block [Abstract] Nature of Operations [Text Block] Variable Interest Entities Disclosure [Abstract] Variable Interest Entities Disclosure [Abstract] The entire disclosure for variable interest entities consolidated. Including accounting policy for consolidation to describe the significant judgments and assumptions made in determining whether a variable interest held by the entity requires the variable interest entity to be consolidated and (or) disclose information about its involvement with the variable interest entity; the methodology used by the entity for determining whether or not it is the primary beneficiary of the variable interest entity; and the significant factors considered and judgments made in determining that the power to direct the activities that significantly impact the economic performance of the variable interest entity are shared (as defined), the nature of restrictions on a consolidated variable interest entities' assets and on the settlement of its liabilities reported by a reporting entity in its statement of financial position, including the carrying amounts of such assets and liabilities; and summary of the financial performances of the VIEs consolidated. Variable Interest Entities Disclosure [Text Block] Accounting Policies [Abstract] Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block] Term Deposit [Abstract] Term Deposit [Abstract] The entire disclosure of term deposit. Term Deposit [Text Block] Accounts Receivable Disclosure [Abstract] Accounts Receivable Disclosure [Abstract] The entire disclosure of accounts receivables. Accounts Receivable Disclosure [Text Block] Receivables [Abstract] Loans, Notes, Trade and Other Receivables Disclosure [Text Block] Prepayments And Deposits To Suppliers Disclosure [Abstract] Prepayments And Deposits To Suppliers Disclosure [Abstract] Tabular disclosure of the various types of prepayments and deposits to suppliers as of the balance sheet date. Presentation is categorized by nature of these prepayments and deposits. Prepayments And Deposits To Suppliers Disclosure [Text Block] Due From Related Parties Disclosure [Abstract] Due From Related Parties Disclosure [Abstract] The entire disclosure for due from related parties. Including descriptions and amounts of the transactions. Due From Related Parties Disclosure [Text Block] Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract] Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures Disclosure [Text Block] Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract] Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure [Text Block] Intangible Assets Disclosure [Text Block] Deposits For Purchasing Assets [Abstract] Deposits For Purchasing Assets [Abstract] Represents the entire disclosure for deposits for purchasing assets. Deposits For Purchasing Assets [Text Block] Disclosure Text Block Supplement [Abstract] Goodwill Disclosure [Text Block] Short-term Debt [Text Block] Payables and Accruals [Abstract] Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities Disclosure [Text Block] Due To Noncontrolling Interest Of VIE [Abstract] Due To Noncontrolling Interest Of VIE [Abstract] The entire disclosure for debt due to noncontrolling interest of vie's. Due To Noncontrolling Interest Of VIE [Text Block] Taxation Disclosure [Abstract] Taxation Disclosure [Abstract] The entire disclosure for income taxes and other tax obligations. Disclosures may include income tax policies in respective tax jurisdictions where an enterprise's subsidiaries operate, net deferred tax liability or asset recognized in an enterprise's statement of financial position, net change during the year in the total valuation allowance, approximate tax effect of each type of temporary difference and carryforward that gives rise to a significant portion of deferred tax liabilities and deferred tax assets, utilization of a tax carryback, tax uncertainties information, and descriptions and amounts of other tax obligations. Taxation Disclosure [Text Block] Long Term Borrowing From Director Disclosure [Abstract] Long Term Borrowing From Director Disclosure [Abstract] The entire disclosure for long-term borrowing from director. Including the descriptions and amounts of the transactions. Long Term Borrowing From Director Disclosure [Text Block] Warrants Disclosure [Abstract] Warrants Disclosure [Abstract] The entire disclosure for warrants issued and outstanding as of the reporting date. Warrants Disclosure [Text Block] Restricted Assets Disclosure [Text Block] Related Party Transactions [Abstract] Related Party Transactions Disclosure [Text Block] Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract] Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Disclosure [Text Block] Risks and Uncertainties [Abstract] Concentration Risk Disclosure [Text Block] Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] Segment Reporting [Abstract] Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block] Earnings Per Share [Abstract] Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract] Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block] Basis of Accounting, Policy [Policy Text Block] Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]