The fair value of contingent consideration paid under business combination held by a third party.

No definition available.

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

- Definition

The fair value of contingent consideration paid under business combination.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The amount of settlement of pre existing relationship as at the date of acquisition.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of consideration transferred, consisting of acquisition-date fair value of assets transferred by the acquirer, liabilities incurred by the acquirer, and equity interest issued by the acquirer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 30
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116859721&loc=d3e6613-128477

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120321790&loc=d3e6927-128479

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 30
-Paragraph 7
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116859721&loc=d3e6578-128477

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of equity interests of the acquirer, including instruments or interests issued or issuable in consideration for the business combination.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferredEquityInterestsIssuedAndIssuable
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of business during the period. The cash portion only of the acquisition price.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120321790&loc=d3e6927-128479

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123570139&loc=d3e3213-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesGross
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=plug_AppliedCryoTechnologiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=plug_FramesHoldingB.v.Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Acquisitions - Fair value of consideration (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands			12 Months Ended
	Dec. 09, 2021	Nov. 22, 2021	Dec. 31, 2021
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration Held			$ 10,000
Applied Cryo Technologies
Cash		$ 98,559
Plug Power Stock		46,697
Contingent consideration		14,000
Settlement of preexisting relationship		2,837
Total consideration		162,093
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration Held		$ 10,000
Frames Holding B.V.
Cash	$ 94,541
Contingent consideration	29,057
Settlement of preexisting relationship	4,263
Total consideration	$ 127,861