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Noncontrolling interests (Details) (USD $)
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3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Jun. 30, 2013
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Jun. 30, 2012
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Jun. 30, 2013
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Jun. 30, 2012
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Dec. 31, 2012
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Dec. 31, 2011
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Dec. 31, 2010
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Jun. 30, 2013
Ilios
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Dec. 31, 2012
Ilios
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Dec. 31, 2011
Ilios
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Dec. 31, 2010
Ilios
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Jun. 30, 2013
Ilios
Private placement to accredited investors
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Dec. 31, 2012
Ilios
Private placement to accredited investors
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Jul. 24, 2009
Ilios
Private placement to accredited investors
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Jun. 30, 2013
Ilios
Private placement to Tecogen
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Jun. 30, 2012
Ilios
Private placement to Tecogen
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Dec. 31, 2012
Ilios
Private placement to Tecogen
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Dec. 31, 2011
Ilios
Private placement to Tecogen
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Dec. 28, 2012
Ilios
Private placement to Tecogen
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Dec. 29, 2011
Ilios
Private placement to Tecogen
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Jun. 03, 2011
Ilios
Private placement to Tecogen
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| Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items] | |||||||||||||||||||||
| The Companys ownership percentage in subsidiary | 65.00% | 65.00% | 65.00% | 67.40% | 63.00% | ||||||||||||||||
| Subsidiary cumulative number of shares sold | 1,500,000 | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 | 1,500,000 | 1,000,000 | 1,500,000 | ||||||||||||||
| Subsidiary sale of stock, price in usd per share | $ 0.50 | $ 0.50 | $ 0.50 | $ 0.50 | $ 0.50 | $ 0.50 | $ 0.50 | $ 0.50 | $ 0.50 | $ 0.50 | |||||||||||
| Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Change Due to Net Income Attributable to Parent and Effects of Changes, Net [Abstract] | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Net loss attributable to Tecogen Inc. | $ (1,090,480) | $ (396,973) | $ (1,950,873) | $ (835,286) | $ (1,636,957) | $ (1,574,501) | $ (355,308) | ||||||||||||||
| Transfers (to) from the noncontrolling interest | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Decrease in Tecogen's paid-in capital for purchase of 1,000,000 and 1,500,000 Ilios common shares in 2012 and 2011, respectively | (174,958) | (261,174) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Increase in Tecogen's paid-in capital upon the sale of 1,000,000 Ilios common shares | 0 | 289,606 | 289,606 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Net transfers to noncontrolling interest | 0 | 289,606 | 114,648 | (261,174) | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| Change from net loss attributable to Tecogen Inc. and transfers to noncontrolling interest | (1,950,873) | (545,680) | (1,522,309) | (1,835,675) | (355,308) | ||||||||||||||||
| Subsidiary aggregate proceeds from stock transactions | $ 750,000 | $ 500,000 | $ 500,000 | $ 500,000 | $ 750,000 | $ 500,000 | $ 750,000 | ||||||||||||||