Molecular Templates, Inc. Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Equity Incentive Plans and Stock Based Compensation - Stock Option Activity Under Equity Incentive Plan (Detail)

Equity Incentive Plans and Stock Based Compensation - Stock Option Activity Under Equity Incentive Plan (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Shares Available for Grant, Beginning Balance	175,236	498,411	1,077,784
Shares Available for Grant, Additional shares reserved	7,250,000	1,250,000	1,250,000
Shares Available for Grant, Options granted	(1,895,250)	(1,663,500)	(1,844,000)
Shares Available for Grant, Options canceled	179,532	90,325	14,627
Shares Available for Grant, Ending Balance	4,423,493	175,236	498,411
Shares Available for Grant, Shares expired	(1,286,025)
Number of Shares, Beginning Balance	6,526,506	5,098,972	3,672,179
Number of Shares, Granted	1,895,250	1,663,500	1,844,000
Number of Shares, Exercised	(73,282)	(145,641)	(402,580)
Number of shares, Canceled	(179,532)	(90,325)	(14,627)
Number of Shares, Ending Balance	8,168,942	6,526,506	5,098,972
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Beginning Balance	$ 3.66	$ 3.18	$ 1.45
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Granted	$ 3.78	$ 5.10	$ 6.24
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Exercised	$ 1.43	$ 1.56	$ 1.39
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Canceled	$ 4.63	$ 6.49	$ 4.25
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Ending Balance	$ 3.69	$ 3.66	$ 3.18
Minimum
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Beginning Balance		$ 0.42	$ 0.42
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Granted		$ 4.45	$ 1.38
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Exercised		$ 0.79	$ 0.79
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Canceled		$ 1.44	$ 0.79
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Ending Balance		$ 0.42	$ 0.42
Maximum
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Beginning Balance		$ 7.75	$ 3.18
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Granted		$ 5.58	$ 7.75
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Exercised		$ 3.46	$ 3.08
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Canceled		$ 7.75	$ 6.18
Weighted Average Exercise Price, Ending Balance		$ 7.75	$ 7.75