Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Cover
- Document and Entity Information Document and Entity Information
Financial Statements
Notes to Financial Statements
Accounting Policies
- Description of business and summary of significant accounting policies (Policies)
Notes Tables
Notes Details

Noncontrolling interests (Details)

v2.4.0.6

Noncontrolling interests (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended					3 Months Ended
Noncontrolling interests (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2013 Ilios	Dec. 31, 2012 Ilios	Dec. 31, 2010 Ilios	Mar. 31, 2013 Ilios Private placement to accredited investors	Mar. 31, 2013 Ilios Private placement to Tecogen	Mar. 31, 2012 Ilios Private placement to Tecogen	Dec. 31, 2012 Ilios Private placement to Tecogen
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
The Company's ownership percentage in subsidiary			65.00%	67.40%	63.00%
Subsidiary cumulative number of shares sold						1,000,000	1,000,000	1,500,000
Subsidiary sale of stock, price in usd per share						$ 0.50	$ 0.50		$ 0.50
Subsidiary aggregate proceeds from stock transactions						$ 500,000	$ 500,000	$ 750,000
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Change Due to Net Income Attributable to Parent and Effects of Changes, Net [Abstract]
Loss available to stockholders	(860,393)	(438,313)
Transfers (to) from the noncontrolling interest
Increase in Tecogen's paid-in capital upon the sale of 1,000,000 Ilios common shares	0	289,606
Net transfers to noncontrolling interest	0	289,606
Change from net loss attributable to Tecogen Inc. and transfers to noncontrolling interest	$ (860,393)	$ (148,707)

- Definition

This element represents the total net income attributable to the parent for the period and the effect of net changes during the period impacting the parent's ownership interest in a subsidiary as it relates to the total (consolidated) equity attributable to the parent. The changes to the parent's ownership interest in a subsidiary represented by this element did not result in a deconsolidation of the subsidiary from the consolidated financial statements.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)

-Number 51

-Paragraph 38

-Subparagraph d

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- Definition

Represents a sale (new stock issuance) by a subsidiary to noncontrolling interests (third parties, parties directly or indirectly unrelated to parent) during the period. The capital transaction by subsidiary does not result in a loss of control by the parent, but does effect a change in total (consolidated) equity attributable to the parent.

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- Definition

The increase (decrease) during the period impacting the parent's ownership interest in a subsidiary as it relates to the total (consolidated) equity attributable to the parent. The changes to the parent's ownership interest in a subsidiary represented by this element did not arise in a deconsolidation of the subsidiary from the consolidated financial statements.

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The parent entity's interest in net assets of the subsidiary, expressed as a percentage.

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- Definition

The portion of profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, which is attributable to the parent.

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- Definition

Per share amount received by subsidiary or equity investee for each share of common stock issued or sold in the stock transaction.

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Cumulative number of shares issued or sold by the subsidiary or equity method investee on all stock transactions.

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Cumulative amount of cash and other consideration received by subsidiary or equity method investee in exchange for shares or stock issued or sold. Include amounts of cash received, fair value of non-cash assets received, fair value of liabilities assumed, and fair value of any other forms of consideration.

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