Name:	plug_CashReceiptInstallmentAmountForGoodsAndServices
Namespace Prefix:	plug_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Represents the cash receipts for goods and services to be received pursuant to a warrant transaction agreement.

No definition available.

Name:	plug_CashReceiptsForGoodsAndServicesWarrantTransactionAgreement
Namespace Prefix:	plug_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Represents the number of warrants exercised by the warrant holders.

No definition available.

Name:	plug_ClassOfWarrantOrRightExercised
Namespace Prefix:	plug_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Number of securities into which the class of warrant or right may be converted that have vested.

No definition available.

Name:	plug_ClassOfWarrantOrRightNumberOfSecuritiesVestedByWarrantsOrRights
Namespace Prefix:	plug_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Number of securities into which the class of warrant or right may be converted that vest in a given installment.

No definition available.

Name:	plug_ClassOfWarrantOrRightNumberOfSecuritiesVestedPerInstallment
Namespace Prefix:	plug_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Number of warrants that have been exercised to date.

No definition available.

Name:	plug_ClassOfWarrantOrRightNumberOfWarrantsExercisedToDate
Namespace Prefix:	plug_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Represents the effect on equity from the issuance of warrants.

No definition available.

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

Amount of credit loss expense (reversal of expense) for common stock warrants.

No definition available.

Name:	plug_EquityProvisionReversalForCommonStockWarrants
Namespace Prefix:	plug_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Represents the number of installments in an agreement.

No definition available.

Name:	plug_NumberOfInstallments
Namespace Prefix:	plug_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Threshold weighted average share price.

No definition available.

Name:	plug_PercentageOfThresholdWeightedAverageSharePrice
Namespace Prefix:	plug_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents the provision for common stock warrants as a reduction of revenue.

No definition available.

Name:	plug_ProvisionForCommonStockWarrants
Namespace Prefix:	plug_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Value of outstanding derivative securities that permit the holder the right to purchase securities (usually equity) from the issuer at a specified price.

No definition available.

Name:	plug_WarrantsAndRightsOutstandingAsset
Namespace Prefix:	plug_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Exercise price per share or per unit of warrants or rights outstanding.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147481112/505-10-50-3

Name:	us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightExercisePriceOfWarrantsOrRights1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	dtr-types:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
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.

No definition available.

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

Number of securities into which the class of warrant or right may be converted. For example, but not limited to, 500,000 warrants may be converted into 1,000,000 shares.

Name:	us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightNumberOfSecuritiesCalledByWarrantsOrRights
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Name:	us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightAxis=plug_WarrantIssuedWithWalmartStoresIncTransactionAgreementInJuly2017Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_VestingAxis=plug_WarrantsTranchesOneAndTwoMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_VestingAxis=plug_WarrantIssuedTrancheThreeMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightAxis=plug_TrancheOneOfWarrantIssuedWithAmazon.comIncTransactionAgreementInApril2017Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_VestingAxis=plug_WarrantIssuedTrancheOneMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_VestingAxis=plug_WarrantIssuedTrancheTwoMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis=plug_WalmartCustomerMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: