Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Noncontrolling interests (Details)

v2.4.0.8
Noncontrolling interests (Details) (USD $)
 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended 3 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013
Sep. 30, 2012
Sep. 30, 2013
Sep. 30, 2012
Sep. 30, 2013
Ilios
Dec. 31, 2012
Ilios
Dec. 31, 2010
Ilios
Sep. 30, 2013
Ilios
Private placement to accredited investors
Sep. 30, 2013
Ilios
Private placement to Tecogen
Sep. 30, 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 (1,387,679) (674,605) (3,338,552) (1,509,891)              
Transfers (to) from the noncontrolling interest                      
Increase in Tecogen's paid-in capital upon the sale of 1,000,000 Ilios common shares   289,605 0                
Net transfers to noncontrolling interest 0     289,605              
Change from net loss attributable to Tecogen Inc. and transfers to noncontrolling interest     $ (3,338,552) $ (1,220,286)