Name:	plug_GovernmentAssistanceReductionInDepreciationExpensePeriod
Namespace Prefix:	plug_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Amount of production tax credit recognized during the period.

No definition available.

Name:	plug_ProductionTaxCreditAmount
Namespace Prefix:	plug_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Initial period of taxable years in which the company elects to avail production tax credits, expressed in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

No definition available.

Name:	plug_ProductionTaxCreditRefundableInitialTerm
Namespace Prefix:	plug_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Remaining period of taxable years available for company to avail production tax credits or transfer all portion of production tax credit to third party buyer in exchange of cash, expressed in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

No definition available.

Name:	plug_ProductionTaxCreditRefundableRemainingTerm
Namespace Prefix:	plug_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Amount of asset from government assistance, classified as noncurrent.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 832
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (c)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147483507/832-10-50-3

Name:	us-gaap_GovernmentAssistanceAmountCumulativeNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

Name:	us-gaap_GovernmentAssistanceLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Indicates line item in statement of financial position that includes asset from government assistance, classified as noncurrent.

Name:	us-gaap_GovernmentAssistanceNoncurrentStatementOfFinancialPositionExtensibleEnumeration
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	enum2:enumerationSetItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Amount of decrease (increase) in expense from government assistance, classified as operating.

Name:	us-gaap_GovernmentAssistanceOperatingExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Indicates line item in statement of income or comprehensive income that includes decrease (increase) in expense from government assistance, classified as operating.