Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Stockholders' Equity (Details 5)

v2.4.1.9
Stockholders' Equity (Details 5) (USD $)
0 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 0 Months Ended
May 06, 2014
Sep. 18, 2012
Mar. 05, 2012
item
Mar. 31, 2012
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2014
Mar. 31, 2013
Oct. 31, 2013
Stockholders' Equity                
Options outstanding (in shares)         13,200,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber 12,900,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber 11,800,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber  
Restricted stock units outstanding (in shares)         1,900,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber 2,100,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber 1,500,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber  
Common stock sold (in shares) 18,800,000us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesNewIssues   22,600,000us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesNewIssues          
Number of preferred stock purchase right for each share of common stock         1cpst_PreferredStockNumberOfPurchaseRightsPerShareOfCommonStock      
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)         $ 0.001us-gaap_PreferredStockParOrStatedValuePerShare $ 0.001us-gaap_PreferredStockParOrStatedValuePerShare    
Purchase price (in dollars per share)         $ 10.00cpst_PreferredStockPurchasePricePerShare      
Period following public announcement of beneficial ownership acquired by various persons resulting in rights becoming exercisable         10 days      
Beneficial ownership of common stock (as a percent)         20.00%cpst_BeneficialOwnershipOfCommonStockPercentage      
Period following commencement of tender offer or exchange offer that would result in acquisition of beneficial ownership various persons resulting in rights becoming exercisable         10 days      
Share Price $ 1.70us-gaap_SharePrice              
Net proceeds from sale of the common stock, after deducting fees and other offering expenses (in dollars) $ 29,800,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock              
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)     $ 0.001us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare   $ 0.001us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare $ 0.001us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare    
Unsolicited exercise of 2012 warrants     22,600,000us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightNumberOfSecuritiesCalledByWarrantsOrRights          
Exercise price (in dollars per share)   $ 1.26us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightExercisePriceOfWarrantsOrRights1 $ 1.55us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightExercisePriceOfWarrantsOrRights1       $ 1.41us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightExercisePriceOfWarrantsOrRights1  
Warrant unit price (in dollars per shares)     $ 1.11cpst_ClassOfWarrantOrRightUnitPriceOfWarrantsOrRights          
Number of shares of common stock in each unit     1cpst_ClassOfWarrantOrRightsNumberOfCommonSharesInEachUnitSoldUnderDirectPlacement          
Number of shares of common stock in each warrant     1cpst_ClassOfWarrantOrRightsNumberOfSharesPerWarrantIssuedUnderEachUnitSoldUnderDirectPlacement          
Right to purchase maximum additional number of shares of common stock under put option     19,000,000cpst_CommonStockRightToPurchaseMaximumAdditionalNumberOfSharesOfCommonStock          
Number of Put Options     2cpst_NumberOfPutOptions          
Number of trading days prior to the exercise of put option       30 days        
Proceeds from exercise of common stock warrants and put options         29,772,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfWarrants 5,954,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfWarrants 4,250,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfWarrants  
Number of investors with whom Investor Agreement entered   1cpst_CommonStockRightToPurchaseUnderInvestorAgreementWithNumberOfInvestors            
Purchase price of additional shares determined pursuant to the Investor Agreement (in dollars per share)   $ 0.94cpst_PurchasePriceOfAdditionalSharesDeterminedForFirstExercisePeriodPursuantToInvestorAgreement            
Proceeds from unsolicited exercise of 2012 warrants   4,200,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromWarrantExercises            
Outstanding warrants (in shares)             22,600,000us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightOutstanding  
Non-qualified stock options                
Stockholders' Equity                
Options outstanding (in shares)         3,800,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cpst_NonqualifiedStockOptionsPlanMember
     
Minimum                
Stockholders' Equity                
Arithmetic average of the average daily trading volumes on the exercise date (in shares)   1,750,000cpst_ArithmeticAverageOfAverageDailyTradingVolumesOnExerciseDate
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
           
Stock options                
Stockholders' Equity                
Options outstanding (in shares)         13,163,363us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
12,851,688us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
   
Options granted (in shares)         1,085,800us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGross
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
     
Stock options | Non-qualified stock options                
Stockholders' Equity                
Options outstanding (in shares)         3,800,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cpst_NonqualifiedStockOptionsPlanMember
     
Options granted (in shares)         250,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGross
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cpst_NonqualifiedStockOptionsPlanMember
     
Stock options | Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer | Non-qualified stock options                
Stockholders' Equity                
Options granted (in shares)         2,000,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGross
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cpst_NonqualifiedStockOptionsPlanMember
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= cpst_ExecutiveVicePresidentAndChiefExecutiveOfficerMember
     
Stock options | Executive vice president of sales and marketing | Non-qualified stock options                
Stockholders' Equity                
Options granted (in shares)         850,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGross
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cpst_NonqualifiedStockOptionsPlanMember
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= cpst_ExecutiveVicePresidentOfSalesAndMarketingMember
     
Stock options | Former Senior vice president of customer service | Non-qualified stock options                
Stockholders' Equity                
Options granted (in shares)         250,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGross
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cpst_NonqualifiedStockOptionsPlanMember
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= cpst_SeniorVicePresidentOfCustomerServiceMember
     
Stock options | Former Senior Vice President of Program Management | Non-qualified stock options                
Stockholders' Equity                
Options granted (in shares)         250,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGross
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cpst_NonqualifiedStockOptionsPlanMember
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= cpst_FormerSeniorVicePresidentOfProgramManagementMember
     
Stock options | Former Senior vice president of human resources | Non-qualified stock options                
Stockholders' Equity                
Options granted (in shares)         200,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGross
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cpst_NonqualifiedStockOptionsPlanMember
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= cpst_SeniorVicePresidentOfHumanResourcesMember
     
Stock options | Vice President of Operations | Non-qualified stock options                
Stockholders' Equity                
Options granted (in shares)         250,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGross
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cpst_NonqualifiedStockOptionsPlanMember
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= cpst_VicePresidentOfOperationsMember
     
Non-qualified stock options issued prior to Fiscal 2013                
Stockholders' Equity                
Options granted (in shares)         31,250us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGross
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= cpst_OptionsGrantedPriorToFiscal2013Member
     
Non-qualified stock options issued prior to Fiscal 2013 | Non-qualified stock options                
Stockholders' Equity                
Options granted (in shares)         3,300,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGross
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= cpst_OptionsGrantedPriorToFiscal2013Member
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cpst_NonqualifiedStockOptionsPlanMember
     
Non-qualified stock options issued prior to Fiscal 2015                
Stockholders' Equity                
Options granted (in shares)         62,500us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGross
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= cpst_OptionsGrantedPriorToFiscal2015Member
     
Restricted stock units                
Stockholders' Equity                
Options outstanding (in shares)         93,750us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
     
Restricted stock units outstanding (in shares)         93,750us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
     
Restricted stock units | Former Senior vice president of customer service                
Stockholders' Equity                
Options granted (in shares)         31,250us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGross
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= cpst_SeniorVicePresidentOfCustomerServiceMember
     
Restricted stock units | Vice President of Operations                
Stockholders' Equity                
Options granted (in shares)         62,500us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGross
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= cpst_VicePresidentOfOperationsMember
     
March 2012                
Stockholders' Equity                
Proceeds from exercise of common stock warrants and put options       23,100,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfWarrants
/ us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightAxis
= cpst_WarrantMarch2012Member
       
Expenses incurred upon the exercise of warrants       1,900,000cpst_ClassOfWarrantOrRightExpensesOnExerciseOfWarrants
/ us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightAxis
= cpst_WarrantMarch2012Member
       
Number of warrants exercised (in shares)         4,725,000cpst_ClassOfWarrantOrRightNumberOfWarrantsExercised
/ us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightAxis
= cpst_WarrantMarch2012Member
    4,700,000cpst_ClassOfWarrantOrRightNumberOfWarrantsExercised
/ us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightAxis
= cpst_WarrantMarch2012Member
Proceeds from unsolicited exercise of 2012 warrants               $ 6,000,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromWarrantExercises
/ us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightAxis
= cpst_WarrantMarch2012Member
Outstanding warrants (in shares)       22,550,000us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightOutstanding
/ us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightAxis
= cpst_WarrantMarch2012Member
    22,550,000us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightOutstanding
/ us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightAxis
= cpst_WarrantMarch2012Member
 
September 2008                
Stockholders' Equity                
Outstanding warrants (in shares)       3,910,034us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightOutstanding
/ us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightAxis
= cpst_Warrant2008Member
    3,961,471us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightOutstanding
/ us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightAxis
= cpst_Warrant2008Member
 
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock                
Stockholders' Equity                
Preferred stock conversion basis         0.01cpst_PreferredStockConversionRatio
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_SeriesAPreferredStockMember