Fair Value Measurements - Narrative (Details) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2021 USD ($)
Fair Value Measurements
Assets, transfers from Level 1 to Level 2	$ 0
Assets, transfers from Level 2 to Level 1	0
Assets, transfers from Level 1 to Level 3	0
Assets, transfers from Level 3 to Level 1	0
Liabilities, transfers from Level 1 to Level 2	0
Liabilities, transfers from Level 2 to Level 1	0
Liabilities, transfers from Level 1 to Level 3	0
Liabilities, transfers from Level 3 to Level 1	$ 0

Amount of transfers of assets measured on a recurring basis out of Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy into Level 3.

No definition available.

Name:	plug_FairValueAssetsLevel1ToLevel3TransfersAmount
Namespace Prefix:	plug_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of transfers of assets measured on a recurring basis out of Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy into Level 1.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	plug_FairValueAssetsLevel3ToLevel1TransfersAmount
Namespace Prefix:	plug_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of transfers of liabilities measured on a recurring basis out of Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy into Level 3.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	plug_FairValueLiabilitiesLevel1ToLevel3TransfersAmount
Namespace Prefix:	plug_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of transfers of liabilities measured on a recurring basis out of Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy into Level 1.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	plug_FairValueLiabilitiesLevel3ToLevel1TransfersAmount
Namespace Prefix:	plug_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of transfers of assets measured on a recurring basis out of Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy into Level 2.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (bb)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=117815213&loc=d3e19207-110258

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueAssetsLevel1ToLevel2TransfersAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of transfers of assets measured on a recurring basis out of Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy into Level 1.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueAssetsLevel2ToLevel1TransfersAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of transfers of liabilities measured on a recurring basis out of Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy into Level 2.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueLiabilitiesLevel1ToLevel2TransfersAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of transfers of liabilities measured on a recurring basis out of Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy into Level 1.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueLiabilitiesLevel2ToLevel1TransfersAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant