Document And Entity Information August 8, 2019 [Member] Represents August 8, 2019. June 24, 2019 [Member] Represents June 24, 2019 Note To Financial Statement Details Textual 2020 Notes (long-term), net Significant Accounting Policies Note 2 - Earnings Per Share Note 3 - Revenues From Contracts With Customers; Other Revenues gevo_PaymentsForNetSettlementOfCommonStock Net settlement of common stock under stock plans Represents payments for net settlement of common stock. Note 4 - Leases, Right-to-Use Assets and Related Liabilities Note 5 - Inventories August 9, 2018 [Member] Represents information related to August 9, 2018. Note 6 - Property, Plant and Equipment Note 7 - Embedded Derivatives and Derivative Warrant Liabilities Measurement Input, Conversion Rate, Per 1000 dollars [Member] Measurement input using conversion rate per 1000 dollars. Note 8 - Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities Note 9 - Debt Note 11 - Stock-Based Compensation Note 12 - Commitments and Contingencies Note 13 - Fair Value Measurements Note 14 - Segments Total current liabilities Note 2 - Earnings Per Share - Securities that Potentially Dilute Calculation of Diluted Earnings Per Share (Details) Note 3 - Revenues From Contracts With Customers; Other Revenues - Disaggregated Revenues (Details) Schedule of Debt [Table Text Block] 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 11 - Stock-Based Compensation - Stock-Based Compensation Expense (Details) Note 11 - Stock-Based Compensation - Stock Option Award Activity (Details) Employees and Directors [Member] Represents information related to employees and directors. Note 11 - Stock-Based Compensation - Non-Vested Restricted Stock (Details) Note 12 - Commitments and Contingencies - Future Minimum Payments Under Non-Cancelable Operating Leases (Details) Note 13 - Fair Value Measurements - Schedule of Carrying Value and Fair Value by Fair Value Hierarchy of Financial Instruments (Details) Note 13 - Fair Value Measurements - Schedule of Fair Value Measurements Using Level 3 Inputs (Details) Share-based Payment Arrangement, Option, Activity [Table Text Block] Note 14 - Segments - Information on Business Segments (Details) Notes To Financial Statements Granted (in dollars per share) us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue Notes To Financial Statements [Abstract] Vested (in dollars per share) us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeituresWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue Canceled or forfeited (in dollars per share) us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue Unvested RSAs at December 31, 2018 (in dollars per share) Unvested RSAs at September 30, 2019 (in dollars per share) us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeitedInPeriod Canceled or forfeited (in shares) gevo_GainLossFromChangeInFairValueOfWarrantLiabilitiesNetOfExercises (Gain) loss 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. us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber Unvested RSAs at December 31, 2018 (in shares) Unvested RSAs at September 30, 2019 (in shares) Schedule of Nonvested Share Activity [Table Text Block] Fair value of 2020 Notes embedded derivative liability upon conversion into common stock Represents the fair value of embedded derivative upon exchange during the period. Granted (in shares) us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Vested in Period Vested (in shares) Share-based Payment Arrangement, Cost by Plan [Table Text Block] us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireInvestments Payments to Acquire Investments, Total Investment in Juhl Retrofit Assets [Member] Property, plant, and equipment classified as retrofit assets. Weighted-average remaining contractual life (in years) (Year) 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. 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] 2020 Notes (current), net Balance Balance Accounts payable and accrued liabilities Total accounts payable and accrued liabilities Financial Instrument [Axis] Accrued employee compensation Accrued taxes payable Lessee, Operating Leases [Text Block] us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber Options outstanding (in shares) Options outstanding (in shares) Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment Other accrued liabilities us-gaap_PolicyTextBlockAbstract Accounting Policies Accrued utilities and supplies payable us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Available for Grant Accrued legal-related fees us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardPurchasePriceOfCommonStockPercent Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Purchase Price of Common Stock, Percent us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment Acquisitions of property, plant and equipment us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingPeriod1 Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Award Vesting Period 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. Vesting [Axis] Vesting [Domain] Corn and Finished Goods Inventory [Member] Represents the corn and finished good inventory measured at fair value. Share-based Payment Arrangement, Tranche One [Member] Assets Total assets Plan Name [Axis] Plan Name [Domain] us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized Share-based Payment Arrangement, Nonvested Award, Cost Not yet Recognized, Amount, Total us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedPeriodForRecognition1 Share-based Payment Arrangement, Nonvested Award, Cost Not yet Recognized, Period for Recognition 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] Award Date [Axis] Award Date [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] Series F Warrants and Series K Warrants [Member] Represents Series F Warrants and Series K Warrants. Monte-Carlo model and Black-Scholes Models [Member] Represents information about Monte-Carlo model and Black-Scholes Models. 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_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Total Short-term Debt, Type [Axis] Short-term Debt, Type [Domain] 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 us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleConversionPrice1 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 us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisLiabilityGainLossIncludedInEarnings Total (gains) or losses for the period included in earnings Amendment Flag New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block] Shares issued upon reverse stock split (in shares) us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfPropertyPlantEquipment (Gain) on sale of property, plant and equipment us-gaap_SharesOutstanding Balance (in shares) Balance (in shares) Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares) Current Fiscal Year End Date us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage us-gaap_LeaseCost Total lease cost Lease Arrangement, Type [Axis] Lease Arrangement, Type [Domain] us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidDeferredExpenseAndOtherAssets Prepaid expenses and other current assets, deposits and other 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] Document Period End Date Weighted-average remaining lease term, operating leases (months) (Month) Entity Emerging Growth Company us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount Balance Balance Document Type Loss on exchange of debt Loss on exchange of debt Entity Small Business Entity Shell Company Document Information [Line Items] Document Information [Table] us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationsRecurringBasisLiabilityValue Opening Balance Closing balance Entity Filer Category Debt Instrument [Axis] Entity Current Reporting Status Debt Instrument, Name [Domain] Purchases us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1 Concentration Risk, Percentage us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable Accounts receivable Non-cash stock-based compensation Entity Central Index Key Depreciation and amortization Entity Registrant Name Liability Class [Axis] Fair Value by Liability Class [Domain] Entity [Domain] Legal Entity [Axis] Customer Concentration Risk [Member] Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Table Text Block] Concentration Risk Type [Axis] Concentration Risk Type [Domain] Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares) us-gaap_DepreciationNonproduction Depreciation, Nonproduction Revenue Benchmark [Member] Accounts Receivable [Member] us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInInventories Inventories Trading Symbol gevo_NumberOfEmbeddedDerivative Number of Embedded Derivative Represents the number of embedded derivatives. Concentration Risk Benchmark [Axis] Concentration Risk Benchmark [Domain] Accrued production fees Carrying value as of the balance sheet date for accrued production fees. us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesEmployeeStockPurchasePlans Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Employee Stock Purchase Plans Exercised (in shares) us-gaap_TableTextBlock Notes Tables us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesRestrictedStockAwardGross Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Restricted Stock Award, Gross Issuance of common stock under stock plans, net of taxes (in shares) 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. Issuance of common stock under stock plans, net of taxes us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriod Canceled or forfeited (in shares) Granted (in shares) Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Net of Forfeitures, Total 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 Embedded derivative liability, measurement input us-gaap_EmbeddedDerivativeFairValueOfEmbeddedDerivativeNet Embedded Derivative, Fair Value of Embedded Derivative, Net, Total Balance Balance UNITED STATES 2020 Notes embedded derivative liability Accumulated deficit Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Ending Balance Research and development expense Debt Disclosure [Text Block] Interest expense Interest expense Measurement Input, Price Volatility [Member] 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: Cash, cash equivalent and restricted cash us-gaap_AmortizationOfFinancingCosts Amortization of debt issue costs Measurement Input, Risk Free Interest Rate [Member] Measurement Input, Maturity [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. us-gaap_OtherNoncashIncomeExpense Other non-cash expense Inventory Disclosure [Text Block] Subsequent Event [Member] 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] Subsequent Event Type [Axis] Measurement Input, Exercise Price [Member] Current lease obligations Subsequent Event Type [Domain] Measurement Input, Conversion Price [Member] us-gaap_OperatingLeaseRightOfUseAsset Operating Lease, Right-of-Use Asset Balance Balance 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 Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block] Assets, fair value us-gaap_AssetsFairValueDisclosure Investment in Juhl Liabilities, fair value us-gaap_LiabilitiesFairValueDisclosure us-gaap_SharesPaidForTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation Share-based Payment Arrangement, Shares Withheld for Tax Withholding Obligation 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; 13,369,001 and 8,640,583 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: Measurement Frequency [Axis] Gain (loss) 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 Issuance of common stock, net of issuance costs Represents the issuance of common stock, net of issue costs and warrants. us-gaap_LesseeOperatingLeaseDiscountRate Lessee, Operating Lease, Discount Rate Fair Value Measurements, Recurring and Nonrecurring [Table Text Block] Issuance of common stock upon exercise of warrants Represents the stock issued during period value upon exercise of warrants. Common stock, par value (in dollars per share) us-gaap_CommonStockCapitalSharesReservedForFutureIssuance Common Stock, Capital Shares Reserved for Future Issuance Operating cash flows from operating leases Statistical Measurement [Domain] Maximum [Member] Minimum [Member] Product and Service [Axis] Product and Service [Domain] Statistical Measurement [Axis] us-gaap_OperatingLeasesRentExpenseNet Operating Leases, Rent Expense, Net, Total Cash paid for interest 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 from contract with Customer Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] Finished goods Fair Value Hierarchy and NAV [Domain] Customer [Axis] Customer [Domain] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] Spare parts Issuance of common stock upon exchange of debt Represents the issuance of common stock upon exchange of debt. Issuance of common stock, net of issuance costs (in shares) Represents the issuance of common stock, net of issue costs and warrants, in shares. Fair Value Hierarchy and NAV [Axis] Ethanol Sales and Related Products [Member] The amount of revenue derived from ethanol sales and related products. Issuance of common stock upon exchange of debt (in shares) Represents the issuance of common stock upon exchange of debt in shares. Issuance of common stock upon exercise of warrants (in shares) Represents the stock issued during period, shares upon exercise of warrants. Raw materials: Fair value of warrants at issuance and upon exercise, net Represents the fair value of warrants at issuance and upon exercise, net. 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 Hydrocarbon [Member] Related to revenue derived from hydrocarbons. Exchange of convertible debt into common stock Represents the conversion and exchanges of convertible debt to common stock. Variable Consideration or Multiple Performance Obligations [Member] Related to revenue where there is variable consideration or multiple performance obligations. Nature of Business [Policy Text Block] Disclosure of accounting policy related to the nature of business. Property, plant and equipment, useful life (Year) Financial Condition [Policy Text Block] Disclosure of accounting policy for financial condition. At-the-market Offering [Member] Related to an at-the-market offering program. Finished goods: gevo_NumberOfCustomer Number of Customer Represents the number of customers. Construction in Progress [Member] Operating Activities Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table Text Block] 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. Revenue Building [Member] AOCI Attributable to Parent [Member] Stockholders' Equity Leasehold Improvements [Member] Other income (expense) us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense Total other expense, net Property, Plant and Equipment, Type [Axis] 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 (decrease) increase 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 provided by financing activities Demonstration Plant [Member] Structure used in the demonstration of goods. Commitments and Contingencies (see Note 12) Sale of Stock [Axis] 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 Other (expense) income us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities Net cash used in operating activities Prepaid expenses and other current assets us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities Net cash used in investing activities 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] Deposits and Other Assets [Member] Represents information included in the balance sheet line item Deposits and Other Assets. Consolidation Items [Domain] us-gaap_ContractWithCustomerLiability Contract with Customer, Liability, Total Derivative liability, fair value us-gaap_DerivativeLiabilities Consolidation Items [Axis] Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 [Member] us-gaap_CostOfGoodsAndServicesSoldDepreciation Cost, Depreciation Investment, Policy [Policy Text Block] us-gaap_PaymentOfFinancingAndStockIssuanceCosts Debt and equity offering costs us-gaap_PaymentsOfStockIssuanceCosts Payments of Stock Issuance Costs Type of Adoption [Domain] Concentration Risk, Credit Risk, Policy [Policy Text Block] 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. 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. Proceeds from exercise of common stock warrants 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 Proceeds from Issuance of Common Stock Title of Individual [Domain] Title of Individual [Axis] Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] 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. Common Stock [Member] 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] 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) At-the-market Offering Program, Policy [Policy Text Block] Disclosure of accounting policy for at-the-market offering program in the preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. Short-term Leases, 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. Short-term Leases, 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. Short-term Leases, 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. Short-term Leases, 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] 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 Balance us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount Accounting Policies [Abstract] Basis of Accounting, Policy [Policy Text Block] Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member] Title of 12(b) Security Research and Development Expense [Member] Income Statement Location [Axis] Income Statement Location [Domain] gevo_LicenseAgreementTerm License Agreement, Term Represents the duration of a license agreement. 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) us-gaap_SharePrice Share Price Antidilutive securities (in shares) Net loss per share - basic and diluted (in dollars per share) Non-US [Member] Statement [Table] Statement of Financial Position [Abstract] Operating Leases, 2023 and thereafter Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities Disclosure [Text Block] us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDue Operating Leases, Total Operating Leases, 2021 Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract] Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract] Operating Leases, 2019 (remaining) Operating Leases, 2020 Income Statement [Abstract] Gain (loss) 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] Stock Incentive Plans Disclosure [Text Block] The entire disclosure for stock incentive plans. Schedule of Future Minimum Rental Payments for Operating Leases [Table Text Block] Stock Incentive Plan 2010 [Member] Represents the stock incentive plan 2010. Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Member] Represents the employee stock purchase plan. Discussion of Hybrid Instruments and Embedded Derivatives [Text Block] Financing Activities Other long-term liabilities Purina Animal Nutrition, LLC [Member] The entity Purina Animal Nutrition, LLC. Eco-Energy, LLC [Member] The entity Eco-Energy, LLC. Series A Preferred Stock [Member] us-gaap_AccrualForEnvironmentalLossContingencies Accrual for Environmental Loss Contingencies, Ending Balance us-gaap_StockholdersEquity Total stockholders' equity Balance Balance Class of Stock [Axis] Class of Stock [Domain] gevo_ShareBasedCompensationOptionsEstimatedForfeitureRatesRangeUpperLimit Share Based Compensation, Options, Estimated Forfeiture Rates Range, Upper Limit Share based compensation, options, estimated forfeiture rates range, upper limit. gevo_ShareBasedCompensationOptionsEstimatedForfeitureRatesRangeLowerLimit Share Based Compensation, Options, Estimated Forfeiture Rates Range, Lower Limit Share based compensation, options, estimated forfeiture rates range, lower limit. Juhi Clean Energy [Member] Represents information related to Juhi Clean Energy. Operating Segments [Member] Derivative Financial Instruments, Liabilities [Member] Coryton Advanced Fuels Ltd [Member] Represents information related to Coryton Advanced Fuels Ltd.