Cover - USD ($) $ in Billions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2022	Feb. 20, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Document Annual Report	true
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2022
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-38495
Entity Registrant Name	Nikola Corporation
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	82-4151153
Entity Address, Address Line One	4141 E Broadway Road
Entity Address, City or Town	Phoenix
Entity Address, State or Province	AZ
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	85040
City Area Code	(480)
Local Phone Number	666-1038
Title of 12(b) Security	Common stock, $0.0001 par value per share
Trading Symbol	NKLA
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
ICFR Auditor Attestation Flag	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 1.3
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		554,359,798
Documents Incorporated by Reference	Items 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 of Part III incorporate by reference information from the registrant’s proxy statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the registrant’s 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
Entity Central Index Key	0001731289
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2022
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false