v3.26.1

Document And Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
Document And Entity Information - shares	Mar. 31, 2026	May 08, 2026
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Central Index Key	0001621832
Entity Registrant Name	Aqua Metals, Inc.
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2026
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2026
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-37515
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	47-1169572
Entity Address, Address Line One	5370 Kietzke Lane, Suite 201
Entity Address, City or Town	Reno
Entity Address, State or Province	NV
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	89511
City Area Code	775
Local Phone Number	446-4418
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock
Trading Symbol	AQMS
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	true
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		3,362,006

Boolean flag that is true when the XBRL content amends previously-filed or accepted submission.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dei_AmendmentFlag
Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	xbrli:booleanItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Area code of city

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dei_CityAreaCode
Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	xbrli:normalizedStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

End date of current fiscal year in the format --MM-DD.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dei_CurrentFiscalYearEndDate
Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	xbrli:gMonthDayItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Fiscal period values are FY, Q1, Q2, and Q3. 1st, 2nd and 3rd quarter 10-Q or 10-QT statements have value Q1, Q2, and Q3 respectively, with 10-K, 10-KT or other fiscal year statements having FY.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dei_DocumentFiscalPeriodFocus
Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	dei:fiscalPeriodItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This is focus fiscal year of the document report in YYYY format. For a 2006 annual report, which may also provide financial information from prior periods, fiscal 2006 should be given as the fiscal year focus. Example: 2006.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dei_DocumentFiscalYearFocus
Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	xbrli:gYearItemType
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:	dei_DocumentInformationLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

For the EDGAR submission types of Form 8-K: the date of the report, the date of the earliest event reported; for the EDGAR submission types of Form N-1A: the filing date; for all other submission types: the end of the reporting or transition period. The format of the date is YYYY-MM-DD.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate
Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Boolean flag that is true only for a form used as an quarterly report.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Form 10-Q
-Number 240
-Section 308
-Subsection a

+ Details

Name:	dei_DocumentQuarterlyReport
Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	xbrli:booleanItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Boolean flag that is true only for a form used as a transition report.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Forms 10-K, 10-Q, 20-F
-Number 240
-Section 13
-Subsection a-1

+ Details

Name:	dei_DocumentTransitionReport
Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	xbrli:booleanItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The type of document being provided (such as 10-K, 10-Q, 485BPOS, etc). The document type is limited to the same value as the supporting SEC submission type, or the word 'Other'.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dei_DocumentType
Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	dei:submissionTypeItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Address Line 1 such as Attn, Building Name, Street Name

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dei_EntityAddressAddressLine1
Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	xbrli:normalizedStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Name of the City or Town

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dei_EntityAddressCityOrTown
Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	xbrli:normalizedStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Code for the postal or zip code

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dei_EntityAddressPostalZipCode
Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	xbrli:normalizedStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Name of the state or province.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dei_EntityAddressStateOrProvince
Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	dei:stateOrProvinceItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

A unique 10-digit SEC-issued value to identify entities that have filed disclosures with the SEC. It is commonly abbreviated as CIK.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Exchange Act
-Number 240
-Section 12
-Subsection b-2

+ Details

Name:	dei_EntityCentralIndexKey
Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	dei:centralIndexKeyItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Indicate number of shares or other units outstanding of each of registrant's classes of capital or common stock or other ownership interests, if and as stated on cover of related periodic report. Where multiple classes or units exist define each class/interest by adding class of stock items such as Common Class A [Member], Common Class B [Member] or Partnership Interest [Member] onto the Instrument [Domain] of the Entity Listings, Instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dei_EntityCommonStockSharesOutstanding
Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Indicate 'Yes' or 'No' whether registrants (1) have filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that registrants were required to file such reports), and (2) have been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. This information should be based on the registrant's current or most recent filing containing the related disclosure.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dei_EntityCurrentReportingStatus
Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	dei:yesNoItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Indicate if registrant meets the emerging growth company criteria.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Exchange Act
-Number 240
-Section 12
-Subsection b-2

+ Details

Name:	dei_EntityEmergingGrowthCompany
Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	xbrli:booleanItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Commission file number. The field allows up to 17 characters. The prefix may contain 1-3 digits, the sequence number may contain 1-8 digits, the optional suffix may contain 1-4 characters, and the fields are separated with a hyphen.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dei_EntityFileNumber
Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	dei:fileNumberItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Indicate whether the registrant is one of the following: Large Accelerated Filer, Accelerated Filer, Non-accelerated Filer. Definitions of these categories are stated in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. This information should be based on the registrant's current or most recent filing containing the related disclosure.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Exchange Act
-Number 240
-Section 12
-Subsection b-2

+ Details

Name:	dei_EntityFilerCategory
Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	dei:filerCategoryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Two-character EDGAR code representing the state or country of incorporation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dei_EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode
Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	dei:edgarStateCountryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Boolean flag that is true when the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-T
-Number 232
-Section 405

+ Details

Name:	dei_EntityInteractiveDataCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	dei:yesNoItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The exact name of the entity filing the report as specified in its charter, which is required by forms filed with the SEC.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Exchange Act
-Number 240
-Section 12
-Subsection b-2

+ Details

Name:	dei_EntityRegistrantName
Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	xbrli:normalizedStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Boolean flag that is true when the registrant is a shell company as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Exchange Act
-Number 240
-Section 12
-Subsection b-2

+ Details

Name:	dei_EntityShellCompany
Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	xbrli:booleanItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Indicates that the company is a Smaller Reporting Company (SRC).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Exchange Act
-Number 240
-Section 12
-Subsection b-2

+ Details

Name:	dei_EntitySmallBusiness
Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	xbrli:booleanItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The Tax Identification Number (TIN), also known as an Employer Identification Number (EIN), is a unique 9-digit value assigned by the IRS.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Exchange Act
-Number 240
-Section 12
-Subsection b-2

+ Details

Name:	dei_EntityTaxIdentificationNumber
Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	dei:employerIdItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Local phone number for entity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dei_LocalPhoneNumber
Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	xbrli:normalizedStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Title of a 12(b) registered security.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Exchange Act
-Number 240
-Section 12
-Subsection b

+ Details

Name:	dei_Security12bTitle
Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	dei:securityTitleItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Name of the Exchange on which a security is registered.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Exchange Act
-Number 240
-Section 12
-Subsection d1-1

+ Details

Name:	dei_SecurityExchangeName
Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	dei:edgarExchangeCodeItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Trading symbol of an instrument as listed on an exchange.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dei_TradingSymbol
Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	dei:tradingSymbolItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Aqua Metals, Inc. 10-Q