Commitments and Contingencies - Operating Leases (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019
Future minimum lease payments under noncancellable operating leases - As Lessor
Remainder of 2020	$ 27,806
2021	30,993
2022	23,632
2023	19,952
2024	16,508
2025 and thereafter	27,643
Total future minimum lease payments	146,534
Future minimum lease payments under noncancelable operating leases - As Lessee
Remainder of 2020	34,998
2021	46,669
2022	44,139
2023	39,074
2024	39,079
2025 and thereafter	40,250
Total future minimum lease payments	244,209
Less imputed lease interest	(66,624)
Sale of future services	114,625
Total lease liabilities	$ 292,210
Operating Lease, Liability, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List]	plug:FinancingTransactionFinanceObligationAmountCurrent plug:FinancingTransactionFinanceObligationAmount
Rental expense for all operating lease	$ 12,600	$ 6,000
Gross profit on sale leaseback transactions	5,300	0
Right of use assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities	16,200	0
Prepaid rent and security deposit	6,000		$ 6,000
Other information of operating leases
Cash payments	$ 12,522	$ 5,728
Weighted average remaining lease term (in years)	5 years 6 months 7 days	4 years 11 months 1 day
Weighted average discount rate (as a percent)	12.10%	12.10%
Minimum
Operating Leases
Lease Term - as Lessor	1 year
Lease Term - as Lessee	1 year
Maximum
Operating Leases
Lease Term - as Lessor	7 years
Lease Term - as Lessee	9 years
Sale Leaseback Agreements
Future minimum lease payments under noncancelable operating leases - As Lessee
Total lease liabilities	$ 114,600		35,600
Short term operating lease obligation	17,000		6,000
Long term operating lease obligation	$ 97,600		$ 29,600

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