Information Pertaining to 2017 Notes (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Beginning Balance	$ 21,565
Loss/(Gain) from the change in fair value of 2017 Notes	4,204	$ (3,895)	$ (648)
Ending Balance		21,565
2017 Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Amount of 2017 Notes	26,108	26,108
Change in Estimated Fair Value, Beginning Balance	(4,543)
Loss from change in fair value of debt	4,204
Change in Estimated Fair Value, Ending Balance	(339)	(4,543)
Beginning Balance	21,565
Loss/(Gain) from the change in fair value of 2017 Notes	4,204
Ending Balance	$ 25,769	$ 21,565

Financial liabilities accumulated change in estimated fair value disclosure.

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	gevo_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Gain loss from change in fair value of senior secured convertible debt.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	gevo_GainLossFromChangeInFairValueOfSeniorSecuredConvertibleDebt
Namespace Prefix:	gevo_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 55
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930739&loc=d3e28878-108400

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930785&loc=d3e28551-108399

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

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.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of unrealized (holding) gain (loss) which is included in the statement of income (or changes in net assets) related to those liabilities still held at the reporting date for which fair value is measured on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66048111&loc=d3e19207-110258

+ Details

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

- Definition

The fair value amount of long-term debt whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebtFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

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