Finance Obligation (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 27, 2013
Finance Obligation.
Aggregate sale price in sale-leaseback transaction			$ 4,500,000
Cash received in sale-leaseback transaction			2,750,000
Amount receivable under sale-leaseback transaction			1,750,000
Annual interest rate (as a percent)	5.00%
Term of equal monthly installments	15 years
Amount of equal monthly installments	13,839
Current portion of finance obligation in sale-leaseback transaction	64,511	59,375
Lease term	15 years
Standby letter of credit amount	500,000
Percentage of collateralization of standby letter of credit	100.00%
Period of renewal of standby letter of credit	10 years
Restricted cash	$ 500,000	$ 500,000

Name:	plug_FinanceObligationDisclosureAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	plug_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents the amount of aggregate sale price in connection with the transactions involving the sale of property to another party and the lease of the property back to the seller.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Represents the amount of cash receivable in connection with the transactions involving the sale of property to another party and the lease of the property back to the seller.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Represents the amount of cash received in connection with the transactions involving the sale of property to another party and the lease of the property back to the seller.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	plug_FinancingTransactionCashProceeds
Namespace Prefix:	plug_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the amount of equal monthly installments in connection with the transactions involving the sale of property to another party and the lease of the property back to the seller.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Represents the amount of current portion of finance obligation in connection with the transactions involving the sale of property to another party and the lease of the property back to the seller.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	plug_FinancingTransactionFinanceObligationAmountCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	plug_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the term over which equal monthly installments will be received in connection with the transactions involving the sale of property to another party and the lease of the property back to the seller.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	plug_FinancingTransactionTermOfEqualMonthlyInstallments
Namespace Prefix:	plug_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the term of lease in a sale-leaseback transaction.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	plug_SaleLeasebackTransactionLeaseTerm
Namespace Prefix:	plug_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the amount of standby letter of credit issued in connection with the transactions involving the sale of property to another party and the lease of the property back to the seller.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	plug_SaleLeasebackTransactionStandbyLetterOfCreditAmount
Namespace Prefix:	plug_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the percentage of collateralization of standby letter of credit issued in connection with the transactions involving the sale of property to another party and the lease of the property back to the seller.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	plug_SaleLeasebackTransactionStandbyLetterOfCreditCollateralizationPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	plug_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the renewal period of standby letter of credit issued in connection with the transactions involving the sale of property to another party and the lease of the property back to the seller.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	plug_SaleLeasebackTransactionStandbyLetterOfCreditRenewalPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	plug_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalent items which are restricted as to withdrawal or usage. Restrictions may include legally restricted deposits held as compensating balances against borrowing arrangements, contracts entered into with others, or entity statements of intention with regard to particular deposits; however, time deposits and short-term certificates of deposit are not generally included in legally restricted deposits. Excludes compensating balance arrangements that are not agreements which legally restrict the use of cash amounts shown on the balance sheet. This element is for unclassified presentations; for classified presentations there is a separate and distinct element.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 1

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The financing cost related to leases that have been recorded under the deposit method, as a financing or as a capital leases in connection with the transaction involving the sale of property to another party and the lease of the property back to the seller.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Imputed Interest Rate

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6515215

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SaleLeasebackTransactionImputedInterestRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration