Document And Entity Information Note To Financial Statement Details Textual Notes Balance - December 31, 2018 Balance - March 31, 2019 Note 2 - Earnings Per Share Note 3 - Revenues From Contracts With Customers; Other Revenues Note 4 - Leases, Right-to-Use Assets and Related Liabilities Note 5 - Inventories Note 6 - Property, Plant and Equipment Note 7 - Embedded Derivatives and Derivative Warrant Liabilities Note 8 - Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities Note 9 - Debt Note 10 - Stock-Based Compensation Note 11 - Commitments and Contingencies Note 12 - Fair Value Measurements Note 13 - Segments Note 2 - Earnings Per Share - Securities that Potentially Dilute Calculation of Diluted Earnings Per Share (Details) Total current liabilities Note 3 - Revenues From Contracts With Customers; Other Revenues - Disaggregated Revenues (Details) Note 4 - Leases, Right-to-Use Assets and Related Liabilities - Lease Costs (Details) Note 5 - Inventories - Components of Inventory Balances (Details) Note 6 - Property, Plant and Equipment - Property, Plant and Equipment by Classification (Details) Note 7 - Embedded Derivatives and Derivative Warrant Liabilities - Schedule of Inputs to Lattice Model Used to Value Embedded Derivatives (Details) Note 7- Embedded Derivatives and Derivative Warrant Liabilities - Schedule of Shares Issued Upon Exercise of Warrants (Details) Note 8 - Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities - Components Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities in Consolidated Balance Sheets (Details) Note 9 - Debt - Information Pertaining to Convertible Notes (Details) Note 10 - Stock-Based Compensation - Stock-Based Compensation Expense (Details) Note 11 - Commitments and Contingencies - Future Minimum Payments Under Non-Cancelable Operating Leases (Details) Note 12 - Fair Value Measurements - Schedule of Carrying Value and Fair Value by Fair Value Hierarchy of Financial Instruments (Details) Note 12 - Fair Value Measurements - Schedule of Fair Value Measurements Using Level 3 Inputs (Details) Note 13 - Segments - Information on Business Segments (Details) Notes To Financial Statements Notes To Financial Statements [Abstract] gevo_GainLossFromChangeInFairValueOfWarrantLiabilitiesNetOfExercises (Gain) from change in fair value of derivative warrant liability Represents the gain (loss) from change in fair value of warrant liabilities net of exercises during the period. Convertible 2020 Notes [Member] Represents the convertible notes due in 2020. Share-based Payment Arrangement, Cost by Plan [Table Text Block] Retrofit Assets [Member] Property, plant, and equipment classified as retrofit assets. Warrants Classified as Equity [Member] Security that gives the holder the right to purchase shares of stock in accordance with the terms of the instrument, usually upon payment of a specified amount classified as equity. Defined Benefit Plan, Assumptions [Table Text Block] Gevo Development / Agri-Energy [Member] Our Gevo Development/Agri-Energy segment is currently responsible for the operation of our Luverne Facility and the production of ethanol, isobutanol and related products. Monte Carlo Model [Member] Monte-Carlo model valuation technique used to measure fair value. Series K Warrants [Member] Represents the Series K warrants to purchase common stock. Stock Options Issued to Employees and Board Members [Member] An arrangement whereby an employee or board member is entitled to receive in the future, subject to vesting and other restrictions, a number of shares in the entity at a specified price, as defined in the agreement. Although there are variations, normally, after vesting, when an option is exercised, the employee-holder pays the strike value in cash to the issuing employer-entity and receives equity shares. The equity shares can be sold into the market for cash at the current market price without restriction. Financial Instruments [Domain] Accounts payable and accrued liabilities Total accounts payable and accrued liabilities Financial Instrument [Axis] Accrued employee compensation Accrued taxes payable Accrued interest Lessee, Operating Leases [Text Block] Other accrued liabilities * us-gaap_PolicyTextBlockAbstract Accounting Policies Accrued utilities and supplies payable Accrued legal-related fees us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment Acquisitions of property, plant and equipment Accounts payable - trade us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualAtCarryingValue Loss Contingency Accrual, Ending Balance Current liabilities: Embedded Derivative, 2020 Convertible Notes [Member] Represents the embedded derivative on convertible notes due in 2020. Corn and Finished Goods Inventory [Member] Represents the corn and finished good inventory measured at fair value. Assets Total assets Sublease income Share-based Payment Arrangement [Text Block] us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerAssetNet Contract with Customer, Asset, after Allowance for Credit Loss, Total Business Description and Basis of Presentation [Text Block] Award Type [Domain] Indemnification Agreement [Member] Net loss Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent, Total Net loss Award Type [Axis] Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs) [Member] Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member] Restricted Stock [Member] Share-based Payment Arrangement, Option [Member] Warrant [Member] Loss Contingency, Nature [Domain] Schedule of Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Table Text Block] Inventory [Axis] Inventory [Domain] Loss Contingency Nature [Axis] Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] us-gaap_AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment Less accumulated depreciation and amortization Property, plant and equipment, net Property, plant and equipment, net Property, plant, and equipment, gross Long-term Debt, Type [Axis] Long-term Debt, Type [Domain] Derivative Instrument [Axis] Derivative Contract [Domain] Investing Activities Earnings Per Share [Text Block] us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilities Accounts payable, accrued expenses, and long-term liabilities Intersegment Eliminations [Member] us-gaap_OperatingExpenses Total operating expenses Cash and cash equivalents Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value, Ending Balance us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleThresholdConsecutiveTradingDays1 Debt Instrument, Convertible, Threshold Consecutive Trading Days Included in other comprehensive income Conversion Price (in dollars per share) Debt Instrument, Convertible, Conversion Price Stock-based compensation us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleThresholdPercentageOfStockPriceTrigger Debt Instrument, Convertible, Threshold Percentage of Stock Price Trigger us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleConversionRatio1 Debt Instrument, Convertible, Conversion Ratio Included in earnings Amendment Flag Maturity date Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares) Current Fiscal Year End Date us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Variable lease cost us-gaap_LeaseCost Total lease cost Lease Arrangement, Type [Axis] Lease Arrangement, Type [Domain] us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidDeferredExpenseAndOtherAssets Prepaid expenses and other current assets Weighted-average discount rate - operating leases Lease Cost Document Fiscal Period Focus Operating lease cost Document Fiscal Year Focus Short-Term lease cost Lease, Cost [Table Text Block] Right-to-use assets obtained in exchange for new finance lease liabilities Document Period End Date Right-to-use assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities Weighted-average remaining lease term, operating leases (months) (Month) Entity Emerging Growth Company us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount Balance - December 31, 2018 Balance - March 31, 2019 Document Type (Loss) on exchange of debt Loss on exchange of debt Entity Small Business us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationLiabilityTransfersOutOfLevel3 Transfers out of Level 3 Document Information [Line Items] Document Information [Table] us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationsRecurringBasisLiabilityValue Opening Balance Closing balance us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisLiabilitySettlements Settlements Entity Filer Category Debt Instrument [Axis] Entity Current Reporting Status Debt Instrument, Name [Domain] Transfers into Level 3 Purchases us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisLiabilitySales Sales Issues Schedule of Long-term Debt Instruments [Table Text Block] us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable Accounts receivable Entity Central Index Key Depreciation and amortization Entity Registrant Name Liability Class [Axis] Fair Value by Liability Class [Domain] Entity [Domain] Legal Entity [Axis] Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Table Text Block] Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares) us-gaap_DepreciationNonproduction Depreciation, Nonproduction us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInInventories Inventories Trading Symbol gevo_NumberOfEmbeddedDerivative Number of Embedded Derivative Represents the number of embedded derivatives. Accrued production fees Carrying value as of the balance sheet date for accrued production fees. us-gaap_TableTextBlock Notes Tables Selling, general and administrative expense gevo_DebtInstrumentInterestRatePaidInKindPercentage Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Paid In Kind Percentage Contractual paid in kind interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement. gevo_BeneficialOwnershipLimitationPercentage Beneficial Ownership Limitation, Percentage Represents the beneficial ownership limitation percentage. us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesNewIssues Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues us-gaap_LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity Total liabilities and stockholders' equity Risk-free interest rate us-gaap_EmbeddedDerivativeFairValueOfEmbeddedDerivativeNet Embedded Derivative, Fair Value of Embedded Derivative, Net, Total Balance - December 31, 2018 Balance - March 31, 2019 UNITED STATES 2020 Notes embedded derivative liability Accumulated deficit Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Ending Balance Research and development expense gevo_DebtInstrumentGainLossOnExchangeOrConversion Debt Instrument, Gain (Loss) on Exchange or Conversion Amount of gain (loss) on the exchange or conversion of debt recognized in the current period. Debt Disclosure [Text Block] gevo_DebtInstrumentConvertibleAdditionalConvertibleAmount Debt Instrument, Convertible, Additional Convertible Amount Represents the additional convertible amount on a debt instrument. Measurement Input, Price Volatility [Member] Interest expense Interest expense gevo_BeneficialOwnershipLimitationAfterNoticePercentage Beneficial Ownership Limitation After Notice, Percentage The beneficial ownership limitation after notice has passed from not converting the shares which would exceed the original ownership limitation. Changes in operating assets and liabilities: 2020 Option Notes [Member] Represents the purchase option on the 2020 convertible notes, which grants the option to purchase additional principal. Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash gevo_DebtInstrumentPurchaseOptionTerm Debt Instrument, Purchase Option Term Debt instrument, purchase option, maximum number of days from closing of exchange. us-gaap_AmortizationOfFinancingCosts Amortization of debt issue costs Measurement Input, Risk Free Interest Rate [Member] us-gaap_DisclosureTextBlockAbstract Notes to Financial Statements gevo_BeneficialOwnershipLimitationPercentageNotice Beneficial Ownership Limitation Percentage, Notice Number of days notice prior to an increase in the beneficial ownership limitation. Inventory Disclosure [Text Block] Schedule of Inventory, Current [Table Text Block] us-gaap_OperatingLeaseLiability Operating Lease, Liability, Total us-gaap_PaidInKindInterest Paid-in-kind interest Measurement Input, Entity Credit Risk [Member] Current lease obligations Subsequent Events [Text Block] us-gaap_OperatingLeaseRightOfUseAsset Operating Lease, Right-of-Use Asset Balance - December 31, 2018 Balance - March 31, 2019 us-gaap_UnamortizedDebtIssuanceExpense Measurement Input Type [Axis] Measurement Input Type [Domain] Principal Amount of 2020 Notes [Member] Represents the principal amount of the 2020 convertible notes. Valuation Approach and Technique [Axis] Valuation Approach and Technique [Domain] Stock-based compensation Non-cash interest expense Total revenues Operating expenses us-gaap_AmortizationOfDebtDiscountPremium Amortization of debt discount Assets, fair value Assets, fair value us-gaap_StockholdersEquityNoteStockSplitConversionRatio1 Stockholders' Equity Note, Stock Split, Conversion Ratio Liabilities, fair value us-gaap_LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosure us-gaap_AssetsCurrent Total current assets Deposits and other assets Carrying value of amounts transferred to third parties for security purposes that are expected to be returned or applied towards payment after one year or beyond the operating cycle, if longer and noncurrent assets classified as other. Fair Value, Nonrecurring [Member] Common stock, $0.01 par value per share; 250,000,000 authorized; 11,885,524 and 8,640,583 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: Measurement Frequency [Axis] Gain from change in fair value of derivative warrant liability Represents the gain (loss) from change in fair value of warrant liabilities. Measurement Frequency [Domain] Fair Value, Recurring [Member] Common stock, shares authorized (in shares) Common stock shares issued (in shares) Non-cash purchase of property, plant and equipment us-gaap_LesseeOperatingLeaseDiscountRate Lessee, Operating Lease, Discount Rate Fair Value Measurements, Recurring and Nonrecurring [Table Text Block] Common stock, par value (in dollars per share) Operating cash flows from operating leases Statistical Measurement [Domain] Maximum [Member] Minimum [Member] Product and Service [Axis] Product and Service [Domain] Operating cash flows from finance leases Statistical Measurement [Axis] us-gaap_OperatingLeasesRentExpenseNet Operating Leases, Rent Expense, Net, Total Cash paid for interest, net of interest capitalized Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure [Text Block] Geographical [Axis] Property, Plant and Equipment [Table Text Block] Geographical [Domain] Inventories Total inventories Work in process Revenue Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] Finished goods Fair Value Hierarchy and NAV [Domain] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] Spare parts Fair Value Hierarchy and NAV [Axis] Ethanol Sales and Related Products [Member] The amount of revenue derived from ethanol sales and related products. Raw materials: Raw materials Grant and Other [Member] The amount of revenue derived from grant and other sources not separately disclosed. Acquisitions of plant, property and equipment Exchange of convertible debt into common stock Represents the conversion and exchanges of convertible debt to common stock. Hydrocarbon [Member] Related to revenue derived from hydrocarbons. Variable Consideration or Multiple Performance Obligations [Member] Related to revenue where there is variable consideration or multiple performance obligations. Property, plant and equipment, useful life (Year) At-the-market Offering [Member] Related to an at-the-market offering program. Finished goods: Construction in Progress [Member] Operating Activities All Other Countries [Member] Related to all other countries outside of the domestic. Reverse Stock Split [Member] The conversion of a reverse stock split where there is a reduction in the shares outstanding. Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table Text Block] gevo_ClassOfWarrantOrRightIssuedDuringPeriodExercisePrice Class of Warrant or Right, Issued During Period, Exercise Price Exercise price per share of warrants or rights issued during period. gevo_ClassOfWarrantOrRightIssuedDuringPeriod Class of Warrant or Right, Issued During Period The number of warrants or rights issued during period. Derivative warrant liability Warrants and Rights Outstanding Statement [Line Items] us-gaap_NumberOfOperatingSegments Number of Operating Segments Accounts receivable Additional paid-in capital Software Licensing Agreement [Member] Related to a software licensing agreement. Convertible 2017 Notes [Member] Represents the convertible notes expiring in 2017. Building [Member] Convertible 2022 Notes [Member] Represents the convertible notes expiring in 2022. Stockholders' Equity Leasehold Improvements [Member] Other income Property, Plant and Equipment, Type [Axis] us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense Total other expense, net Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block] Property, Plant and Equipment, Type [Domain] Corn [Member] Represents the raw material, corn. Enzymes and Other Inputs [Member] Represents the raw materials, enzymes and other inputs. Current assets: Jet Fuels, Isooctane and Isooctene [Member] Represents the finished goods, Jet fuels, Isooctane and Isooctene. Distiller's Grains [Member] Represents the finished good, distiller's grains. Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block] Ethanol [Member] Represents the finished good, ethanol. Isobutanol [Member] Represents the finished good, Isobutanol. Agri-Energy [Member] Represents work in process at the Agri-Energy facility. us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerAssetCreditLossExpense Contract with Customer, Asset, Credit Loss Expense (Reversal) us-gaap_CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsIncludingDisposalGroupAndDiscontinuedOperations Beginning of period End of period Site Improvement [Member] Additions or improvements to assets to sites. us-gaap_CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecreaseIncludingExchangeRateEffect Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents Gevo [Member] Gevo segment is responsible for all research and development activities related to the future production of isobutanol,including the development of our proprietary biocatalysts, the production and sale of biojet fuel, our retrofit process and the next generation of chemicals and biofuels that will be based on our isobutanol technology. Our Gevo segment also develops, maintains and protects our intellectual property portfolio, develops future markets for our isobutanol and provides corporate oversight services. Computer, Office Equipment, and Software [Member] Computer, office equipment, and software, nonconsumable in nature, with finite lives used to produce goods and services. Total liabilities us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities Net cash (used in)/provided by financing activities Demonstration Plant [Member] Structure used in the demonstration of goods. Commitments and Contingencies (see Note 11) Sale of Stock [Axis] (Gains) and losses on sale and leaseback transactions, net Sale of Stock [Domain] Lab Equipment, Furniture and Fixtures, and Vehicles [Member] Equipment used in labs, used in offices and stores, and for road transportation. Loss from operations Loss from operations us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities Net cash used in operating activities Other (expense) income Prepaid expenses and other current assets us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities Net cash used in investing activities 2014 Warrants [Member] Warrants sold in August of 2014. us-gaap_GrossProfit Gross loss Cost of goods sold Counterparty Name [Axis] Counterparty Name [Domain] Schedule of Stockholders' Equity Note, Warrants or Rights [Table Text Block] Consolidation Items [Domain] us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiability Contract with Customer, Liability, Total Derivative liability, fair value Derivative liability, fair value Consolidation Items [Axis] Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 [Member] us-gaap_CostOfGoodsAndServicesSoldDepreciation Cost, Depreciation us-gaap_PaymentsOfStockIssuanceCosts Payments of Stock Issuance Costs Type of Adoption [Domain] Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncements [Axis] Sales Agent [Member] Related to a sales agent. Grant and other revenue The amount of other revenues, which includes grants. Other revenues The amount of other revenues not separately disclosed. Series C Warrants [Member] Represents Series C Warrants to purchase common stock. Embedded Derivative [Member] Related to an embedded derivative. Series A Warrants [Member] Represents the Series A warrants to purchase common stock. Series F Warrants [Member] Represents the Series F warrants to purchase shares of common stock. Series D Warrants [Member] Represents Series D warrants to purchase common stock. Fair value of right-to-use asset and related lease liability upon adoption of Topic 842 - Leases Fair value of the right-of-use asset and related lease liability. Corn and finished goods inventory, fair value gevo_InventoryFairValue The fair value amount of inventory. Series I Warrants [Member] Represents the Series I warrants to purchase shares of common stock. gevo_CommonStockValueAdditionalSharesAuthorized Common Stock, Value, Additional Shares Authorized Represents the value of the additional common shares authorized to be issued. gevo_LeasesContainingExtensionOrTerminationOptions Leases Containing Extension or Termination Options Represents the number of leases which contain extension or termination options. gevo_LeasesContainingVariablePayments Leases Containing Variable Payments Represents the number of leases which contain variable payments. Proceeds from issuance of common stock and common stock warrants, net Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock Warrant, Issuance Date Date the warrants or rights are issued, in CCYY-MM-DD format. Warrants, Expiration date Date the warrants or rights expire, in CCYY-MM-DD format. gevo_ClassOfWarrantOrRightExercisesInPeriod Class of Warrant or Right, Exercises in Period Represents the amount of warrants or rights exercised in the period. Shares Issues Upon Warrant Exercises (in shares) Number of common shares issued upon exercise of warrants. Equity Components [Axis] Equity Component [Domain] Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities [Member] gevo_OperatingLeaseAgreements Operating Lease Agreements Represents the number of operating lease agreements. Warrant Exercise Price (in dollars per share) us-gaap_RevenueRemainingPerformanceObligation Revenue, Remaining Performance Obligation, Amount Class of Warrant or Right [Axis] Other Noncurrent Liabilities [Member] Class of Warrant or Right [Domain] Other Assets [Member] Other Current Assets [Member] gevo_IncreaseDecreaseInAtTheMarketOfferingOfStock Increase (Decrease) in At-the-Market Offering of Stock The amount of increase (decrease) in the at-the-market offering of stock during the period. Shares Underlying Warrants (in shares) gevo_ShorttermLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInThreeYears 2022 Amount of required minimum rental payments for short-term leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable lease term in excess of one year due in the third fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date. gevo_ShorttermLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInTwoYears 2021 Amount of required minimum rental payments for short-term leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable lease term in excess of one year due in the second fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date. gevo_ShorttermLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueCurrent 2020 Amount of required minimum rental payments for short-term leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable lease term in excess of one year due in the next fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date. gevo_ShorttermLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsRemainderOfFiscalYear 2019 (remaining) Amount of required minimum rental payments for short-term leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable lease term in excess of one year due in the remainder of the fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date. gevo_ShorttermLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDue Short-term Leases, Total Amount of required minimum rental payments for short-term leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable letter-terms in excess of one year. gevo_ShorttermLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueThereafter 2023 and thereafter Amount of required minimum rental payments for short-term leases having an initial or remaining non-cancelable lease term in excess of one year due after the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported on a rolling approach, from latest balance sheet date. Timing of Transfer of Good or Service [Domain] Conversion Rate per $1,000 (in shares) The number of shares per every one thousand dollars of principal amount. Transferred at Point in Time [Member] Transferred over Time [Member] gevo_LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityNotYetCommencedFairValue Lessee, Operating Lease, Liability, Not yet Commenced, Fair Value Represents the fair value of operating lease liabilities related to leases not yet commenced. Disaggregation of Revenue [Table Text Block] gevo_LesseeOperatingLeaseRightofuseAssetNotYetCommencedFairValue Lessee, Operating Lease, Right-of-Use Asset, Not yet Commenced, Fair Value Represents the fair value of operating lease right-of-use assets related to leases not yet commenced. Timing of Transfer of Good or Service [Axis] gevo_LesseeOperatingLeaseLeaseNotYetCommencedAmount Lessee, Operating Lease, Lease Not yet Commenced, Amount Represents the amount of operating leases not yet commenced. Debt Issue Costs [Member] Represents the debt issuance costs for the 2022 convertible notes. Revenue from Contract with Customer [Text Block] Debt Discount [Member] Represents the debt discount for the 2022 convertible notes. Machinery and Equipment [Member] Balance Sheet Location [Axis] Balance Sheet Location [Domain] Balance - December 31, 2018 Balance - March 31, 2019 us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount Accounting Policies [Abstract] Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member] Research and Development Expense [Member] Income Statement Location [Axis] Income Statement Location [Domain] Nonmonetary Transaction Type [Domain] gevo_LicenseAgreementTerm License Agreement, Term Represents the duration of a license agreement. Nonmonetary Transaction Type [Axis] gevo_LicenseAgreementFutureMinimumPaymentsDueTotal License Agreement, Future Minimum Payments Due, Total Represents the amount of required minimum payments for license agreements having an initial or remaining non-cancelable letter-terms in excess of one year. Segments [Axis] Segments [Domain] Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding - basic and diluted (in shares) Stock price (in dollars per share) Antidilutive securities (in shares) Net loss per share - basic and diluted (in dollars per share) Statement [Table] Statement of Financial Position [Abstract] us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueThereafter 2023 and thereafter Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities Disclosure [Text Block] us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDue Operating Leases, Total us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInTwoYears 2021 Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract] us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInThreeYears 2022 us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsRemainderOfFiscalYear 2019 (remaining) us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueCurrent 2020 Income Statement [Abstract] Gain from change in fair value of 2020 Notes embedded derivative Embedded Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Embedded Derivative, Net, Total (Gain) from change in fair value of 2020 Notes embedded derivative Schedule of Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities [Table Text Block] Financing lease cost Schedule of Future Minimum Rental Payments for Operating Leases [Table Text Block] Discussion of Hybrid Instruments and Embedded Derivatives [Text Block] Weighted-average discount rate - financing leases Weighted-average remaining lease term, financing leases (months) (Month) Financing Activities Other long-term liabilities us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingencies Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies, Ending Balance us-gaap_StockholdersEquity Total stockholders' equity Class of Stock [Axis] Operating Segments [Member] Derivative Financial Instruments, Liabilities [Member]