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

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

The expected average term associated with a warrant.

No definition available.

Name:	plug_WarrantAssumptionsExpectedAverageTerm
Namespace Prefix:	plug_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
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

Value of input used to measure outstanding warrant and right embodying unconditional obligation requiring redemption by transferring asset at specified or determinable date or upon event certain to occur.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 820
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (bbb)(2)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482106/820-10-50-2

Name:	us-gaap_WarrantsAndRightsOutstandingMeasurementInput
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
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_MeasurementInputTypeAxis=us-gaap_MeasurementInputRiskFreeInterestRateMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_MeasurementInputTypeAxis=us-gaap_MeasurementInputPriceVolatilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_MeasurementInputTypeAxis=us-gaap_MeasurementInputExpectedTermMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_MeasurementInputTypeAxis=us-gaap_MeasurementInputExercisePriceMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_MeasurementInputTypeAxis=us-gaap_MeasurementInputSharePriceMember
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:

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