Nature of Business, Financial Condition and Basis of Presentation (Policies)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Nature of Business	Nature of Business. Gevo, Inc. (“Gevo” or the “Company,” which, unless otherwise indicated, refers to Gevo, Inc. and its subsidiaries) is a renewable chemicals and next generation biofuels company focused on the development and commercialization of alternatives to petroleum-based products based on isobutanol produced from renewable feedstocks. Gevo, Inc. was incorporated in Delaware on June 9, 2005. Gevo, Inc. formed Gevo Development, LLC (“Gevo Development”) in September 2009 to finance and develop biorefineries through joint venture, licensing arrangements, tolling arrangements or direct acquisition (see Note 12 Gevo Development). Gevo Development became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company in September 2010. Gevo Development purchased Agri-Energy, LLC (“Agri-Energy”) in September 2010. Through May 2012, Agri-Energy, was engaged in the business of producing and selling ethanol and related products produced at its plant located in Luverne, Minnesota (the “Luverne Facility”). The Company commenced the retrofit of the Luverne Facility in 2011 and commenced initial startup operations for the production of isobutanol at this facility in May 2012. In September 2012, the Company made the strategic decision to pause isobutanol production at the Luverne Facility to focus on optimizing specific parts of the process to further enhance isobutanol production rates. In 2013, the Company modified the Luverne Facility in order to (i) verify that the modifications had significantly reduced the previously identified infections, (ii) demonstrate that its biocatalyst performs in the one million liter fermenters at the Luverne Facility, and (iii) confirm GIFT ® efficacy at commercial scale at the Luverne Facility. In 2014, the Company reconfigured the Luverne Facility to enable the co-production of both isobutanol and ethanol, leveraging the flexibility of its GIFT ® technology, with one fermenter utilized for isobutanol production and three fermenters utilized for ethanol production. In line with the Company’s strategy to maximize asset utilization and site cash flows, the Company believes that this configuration of the plant should allow it to continue to optimize its isobutanol technology at a commercial scale, while taking advantage of potentially superior ethanol contribution margins As of March 31, 2017, the Company continues to engage in research and development, business development, business and financial planning, optimize operations for isobutanol, hydrocarbon and ethanol production and raise capital to fund future expansion of our Luverne Facility for increased isobutanol and hydrocarbon production. Ultimately, the Company believes that the attainment of profitable operations is dependent upon future events, including (i) completing its development activities resulting in commercial production and sales of isobutanol or isobutanol-derived products and/or technology, (ii) obtaining adequate financing to complete its development activities, (iii) obtaining adequate financing to build out further isobutanol production capacity, (iv) gaining market acceptance and demand for its products and services, and (v) attracting and retaining qualified personnel. The Company has primarily derived revenue from the sale of ethanol, distiller’s grains and other related products produced as part of the ethanol production process at the Luverne Facility. The production of ethanol alone is not the Company’s intended business and its future strategy is expected to depend on its ability to produce and market isobutanol and products derived from isobutanol. The Company is beginning to achieve more consistent production and revenue from the sale of isobutanol, therefore, the historical operating results of the Company may not be indicative of future operating results for Agri-Energy or Gevo.
Financial Condition	Financial Condition. For the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company incurred a consolidated net loss of $5.9 million and $3.6 million, respectively, and had an accumulated deficit of $382.6 million at March 31, 2017.The Company’s cash and cash equivalents at March 31, 2017 totaled $20.4 million which will be used for the following purposes: (i) operating activities of the Luverne Facility; (ii) operating activities at the Company’s corporate headquarters in Colorado, including research and development work; (iii) capital improvements primarily associated with the Luverne Facility; (iv) costs associated with optimizing isobutanol production technology; (v) exploration of restructuring, strategic alternatives and new financings; and (vi) debt service and repayment obligations. The Company expects to incur future net losses as it continues to fund the development and commercialization of its product candidates. To date, the Company has financed its operations primarily with proceeds from multiple sales of equity and debt securities, borrowings under debt facilities and product sales. The Company expects to incur future net losses as it continues to fund the development and commercialization of its product candidates. The Company’s transition to profitability is dependent upon, among other things, the successful development and commercialization of its product candidates and the achievement of a level of revenues adequate to support the Company’s cost structure. The Company may never achieve profitability or positive cash flows, and unless and until it does, the Company will continue to need to raise additional cash. Management intends to fund future operations through additional private and/or public offerings of debt or equity securities. In addition, the Company may seek additional capital through arrangements with strategic partners or from other sources, it may seek to restructure its secured debt and it will continue to address its cost structure. Notwithstanding, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to raise additional funds, or achieve or sustain profitability or positive cash flows from operations. Based on the Company’s current operating plan, existing working capital at March 31, 2017 is not sufficient to meet the cash requirements to fund planned operations through the period that is one year after the date the Company’s 2017 year-end financial statements were issued unless the Company is able to restructure and extend its debt obligations and/or raise additional capital to fund operations. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern at March 31, 2017. The Company’s inability to continue as a going concern may potentially affect the Company’s rights and obligations under its Senior Secured Debt and Convertible Notes. The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern and do not include adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty. This basis of accounting contemplates the recovery of the Company’s assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business.
Basis of Presentation	Basis of Presentation. The unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Company (which include the accounts of its wholly-owned subsidiaries Gevo Development and Agri-Energy) have been prepared, without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Accordingly, they do not include all information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) for complete financial statements. These statements reflect all normal and recurring adjustments which, in the opinion of management, are necessary to present fairly the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Company at March 31, 2017 and are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. These statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included under the heading “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” in Part II, Item 8 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 (the “Annual Report”).
Reverse Stock Split	Reverse Stock Splits. On December 21, 2016, the Board of Directors approved an amendment to its Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to effect a reverse stock split of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 at a ratio of one-for-twenty. The reverse stock split became effective January 5, 2017. Unless otherwise indicated, all share amounts, per share data, share prices, exercise prices and conversion rates set forth in these notes and the accompanying consolidated financial statements have, where applicable, been adjusted retroactively to reflect this reverse stock split.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	Recent Accounting Pronouncements Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASU 2014-09”). In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The objective of ASU 2014-09 is to outline a new, single comprehensive model to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers. The new revenue recognition model provides a five-step analysis for determining when and how revenue is recognized, depicting the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration that is expected to be received in exchange for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those years beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is permitted. On July 9, 2015, the FASB Board voted to delay the implementation of ASU 2014-09 by one year to December 15, 2017. In April 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-10 Revenue from Contracts with Customers, Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing (“ASU 2016-10”) which provides additional clarification regarding Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing. The new standard is required to be applied retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented or retrospectively with the cumulative effect of initially applying it recognized at the date of initial application. The Company has not yet selected a transition method. The Company does not anticipate the new standard to materially impact how it accounts for its (a) ethanol and related products revenue and (b) hydrocarbon revenue. However, we are currently evaluating the impact to our grant revenue as there could be a potential for changes to the nature and timing of revenue recognized under our various grant agreements. Leases (“ASU 2016-02”). In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, Topic 842 Leases. ASU-2016-02 requires leases to be reported on the financial statements. The objective is to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. ASU 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Future minimum lease obligations for leases accounted for as operating leases at March 31, 2017 totaled $4.1 million. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of adoption of ASU 2016-02 on its consolidated financial statements. Statement of Cash Flows, Classification of Certain Cash Receivable and Cash Payments (“ASU 2016-15). In August 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments which clarifies cash flow statement classification of eight specific cash flow issues. The purpose of ASU 2016-15 is to provide clarification and consistency for classifying the eight specific cash flow issues because current GAAP either is unclear or does not include specific guidance. The amendments in the update are effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of adoption of ASU 2016-15 on its consolidated statements of cash flows.
Adoption of New Accounting Pronouncements	Adoption of New Accounting Pronouncements. Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory (“ASU 2015-11”). In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-11, Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory which requires an entity to measure in scope inventory at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Subsequent measurement is unchanged for inventory measured using LIFO or the retail inventory method. The amendments do not apply to inventory that is measured using last-in, first-out (LIFO) or the retail inventory method. The amendments apply to all other inventory, which includes inventory that is measured using first-in, first-out (FIFO) or average cost. The amendments should be applied prospectively with earlier application permitted as of the beginning of an interim or annual reporting period. The Company adopted this standard for the year-ending December 31, 2017. Adoption of this standard does not materially impact the measurement of the Company’s inventory. Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815) Contingent Put and Call Options in Debt Instruments (“ASU 2016-06”). In March 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-06, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815) Contingent Put and Call Options in Debt Instruments. Topic 815 requires that embedded derivatives be separated from the host contract and accounted for separately as derivatives if certain criteria are met. There are two approaches for determining if the criteria are met. The objective of ASU 2016-06 is intended to resolve the diversity in practice resulting from those two approaches. We adopted this standard in the first quarter of 2017. The adoption of this new standard does not impact the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Compensation—Stock Compensation (‘ASU 2016-09”). In March 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-09, Compensation—Stock Compensation. This standard was issued as part of its Simplification Initiative. The objective of the Simplification Initiative is to identify, evaluate, and improve areas of GAAP for which cost and complexity can be reduced while maintaining or improving the usefulness of the information provided to users of financial statements. The areas for simplification in ASU 2016-09 involve several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. The amendments in ASU 2016-09 are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods. The Company adopted ASU 2016-09 effective as of January 1, 2017, and the adoption of this standard does not materially impact the Company’s accounting for stock compensation.