Document and Entity Information - USD ($)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2021
Mar. 10, 2022
Jun. 30, 2021
Cover [Abstract]      
Document Type 10-K    
Amendment Flag false    
Document Period End Date Dec. 31, 2021    
Document Fiscal Year Focus 2021    
Document Fiscal Period Focus FY    
Document Transition Report false    
Document Annual Report true    
Trading Symbol ACHV    
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code DE    
Entity Registrant Name Achieve Life Sciences, Inc.    
Entity Central Index Key 0000949858    
Current Fiscal Year End Date --12-31    
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer No    
Entity Current Reporting Status Yes    
Entity Interactive Data Current Yes    
Entity Voluntary Filers No    
Entity Filer Category Non-accelerated Filer    
Entity Shell Company false    
Entity Small Business true    
Entity Emerging Growth Company false    
Entity File Number 033-80623    
Entity Tax Identification Number 95-4343413    
Entity Address, Address Line One 1040 West Georgia Street    
Entity Address, Address Line Two Suite 1030    
Entity Address, City or Town Vancouver    
Entity Address, State or Province BC    
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code V6E 4H1    
City Area Code 604    
Local Phone Number 210-2217    
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding   9,460,835  
Entity Public Float     $ 84,749,980
Title of 12(b) Security Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share    
Security Exchange Name NASDAQ    
ICFR Auditor Attestation Flag false    
Auditor Firm ID 271    
Auditor Name PricewaterhouseCooopers LLP    
Auditor Location Vancouver, BC, Canada    
Documents Incorporated by Reference

Portions of the Registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement for its 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (“Proxy Statement”), to be filed within 120 days of the Registrant’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, is incorporated by reference into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.