Satisfied purchase commitment

No definition available.

Name:	pltr_SatisfiedPurchaseCommitment
Namespace Prefix:	pltr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Date the credit facility terminates, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityExpirationDate1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The minimum amount the entity agreed to spend under the long-term purchase commitment.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermPurchaseCommitmentAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Describes the terms of a significant arrangement with a supplier (excluding an unconditional purchase obligation) to acquire goods or services over a period of time beyond one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer, which may include identification of the goods or services to be purchased, pricing, effects on pricing of failing to reach minimum quantities required to be purchased, cancellation rights, and termination provisions.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermPurchaseCommitmentDescription
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of loss contingency liability.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121557415&loc=d3e14326-108349

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualAtCarryingValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Rental expense for the reporting period incurred under operating leases, including minimum and any contingent rent expense, net of related sublease income.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/otherTransitionRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 840
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121573735&loc=d3e41499-112717

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OperatingLeasesRentExpenseNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The total amount of sublease rental income recognized during the period that reduces the entity's rent expense incurred under operating leases.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/otherTransitionRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 840
-SubTopic 10
-Section 55
-Paragraph 40
-Subparagraph (Note 3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121580752&loc=d3e38371-112697

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OperatingLeasesRentExpenseSubleaseRentals1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=pltr_LettersOfCreditAndGuaranteesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PurchaseCommitmentExcludingLongtermCommitmentAxis=pltr_PurchaseCommitmentOneMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherCommitmentsAxis=pltr_ReliefAmountForFutureCloudHostingServicesmemberMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PurchaseCommitmentExcludingLongtermCommitmentAxis=pltr_PurchaseCommitmentTwoMember
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Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Net rent expense			$ 8.3	$ 10.4	$ 26.8	$ 26.0
Sublease income			4.5	$ 3.7	13.9	$ 10.5
Letter of credit outstanding amount		$ 322.8	130.1		$ 130.1		$ 322.8
Letters of credit and guarantees [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Line of credit termination date					Aug. 31, 2028		Aug. 31, 2028
Purchase Commitment One [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Minimum annual commitment		$ 1,490.0
Long-term Purchase Commitment, Description		If the difference is greater than $30.0 million for each of the first three contract years or $50.0 million for each of the contract years thereafter (“relief amounts”), the Company has the option to pay the respective relief amount for that year for services to be utilized in the future and the excess amount of the difference above the relief amount would be added to the minimum annual commitment of the following year through the end of the contract.
Satisfied purchase commitment					$ 60.0
Purchase Commitment One [Member] \| Relief Amount For Future Cloud Hosting Services Member [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Relief amount payable in the future			$ 30.0		30.0
Purchase Commitment Two [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Minimum annual commitment	$ 45.0
Satisfied purchase commitment	$ 1.6				$ 126.0