2.2.0.25truefalse2405401 - Disclosure - Note 4. Acquisitions (Details)truefalseIn Thousands, unless otherwise specifiedfalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse3/31/2011 USD ($) USD ($) / shares $I2011Q1http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001274494instant2011-03-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00usdStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USD_to_EURDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217EURiso42170sharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0usdPerShareDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$2falsefalseUSDfalsefalse12/31/2010 USD ($) USD ($) / shares $I2010Q4http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001274494instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00usdStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170sharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0usdPerShareDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$3falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis} : Ray Tracker [Member] 1/1/2011 - 3/31/2011 USD ($) $D2011Q1_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis_fslr_RayTrackerMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001274494duration2011-01-01T00:00:002011-03-31T00:00:00falsefalseRay Tracker [Member]us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldifslr_RayTrackerMemberus-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisexplicitMemberusdStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170ratioStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDUSD$4falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis} : NextLight [Member] 12/27/2009 - 12/31/2010 D2010Q4YTD_us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis_fslr_NextlightMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001274494duration2009-12-27T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseNextLight [Member]us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldifslr_NextlightMemberus-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxisexplicitMemberusdStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170$2true0us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItemsus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringLine 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.falsefalseBusiness Acquisition [Line Items]3false0us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionEffectiveDateOfAcquisitionus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse001/4/20111/4/2011falsefalsefalsetruefalse4falsefalsefalse007/12/20107/12/2010falsefalsefalsetruefalseOtherus-types:dateStringItemTypenormalizedstringMonth, date and year when the results of operations of the acquired entity began to be included in the income statement of the combined entity. For disclosure purposes, the effective date of an acquisition equates to the acquisition date, when acquisition date is defined as the date on which the acquirer obtained control of the acquired entity. The effective date of an acquisition may be either earlier or later than the date on which the acquisition agreement was executed (closed).Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 141R -Paragraph 10, 11 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 141R -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph c Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 141R -Paragraph 68 -Subparagraph b falsefalseBusiness acquisition, effective date of acquisition4false0us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionPercentageOfVotingInterestsAcquiredus-gaaptruenainstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truetruefalse11falsefalsefalsetruefalse4falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepurePercentage of voting equity interests acquired in the business combination.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 141R -Paragraph 68 -Subparagraph c falsefalseOutstanding membership interests acquired (percentage)5false0fslr_BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationNetTangibleAssetsfslrfalsedebitinstantBusiness Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Tangible Assetsfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse4truefalsefalse25130002513falsetruefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryBusiness Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Tangible AssetsNo authoritative reference available.falsefalseBusiness Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Net Tangible Assets6false0fslr_BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationProjectAssetsAcquiredfslrfalsedebitinstantProject assets acquired through business acquisitions.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse217417000217417falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse217417000217417falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse4truefalsefalse147370000147370falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryProject assets acquired through business acquisitions.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseBusiness Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Project Assets7false0us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionPurchasePriceAllocationGoodwillAmountus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse4truefalsefalse146773000146773falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAmount of goodwill arising from a business combination, which is the excess of the cost of the acquired entity over the amounts assigned to assets acquired and liabilities assumed.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 141 -Paragraph 52 -Subparagraph c Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 141 -Paragraph 53 -Subparagraph d falsefalseBusiness Acquisition, Purchase Price Allocation, Goodwill8false0us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityPurchasePriceus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse4truefalsefalse296740000296740falsetruefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe total cost of the acquired entity including the cash paid to shareholders of acquired entities, fair value of debt and equity securities issued to shareholders of acquired entities, the fair value of the liabilities assumed, and direct costs of the acquisition.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 141 -Paragraph 51 -Subparagraph d falsefalseBusiness Acquisition, Total Purchase Consideration47Note 4. Acquisitions (Details) (USD $)ThousandsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruetrue