Document and Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	May 02, 2013
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	PLUG POWER INC
Entity Central Index Key	0001093691
Trading Symbol	plug
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		64,036,405
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2013
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2013
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1