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These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.falsefalseFair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]3false0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesFairValueDisclosureus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse355226000355226falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse348160000348160falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item represents Available-for-sale Securities which consist of all investments in certain debt and equity securities neither classified as trading or held-to-maturity securities. A debt security represents a creditor relationship with an enterprise. Debt securities include, among other items, US Treasury securities, US government securities, municipal securities, corporate bonds, convertible debt, commercial paper, and all securitized debt instruments. An equity security represents an ownership interest in an enterprise or the right to acquire or dispose of an ownership interest in an enterprise at fixed or determinable prices. Equity securities include, among other things, common stock, certain preferred stock, warrant rights, call options, and put options, but do not include convertible debt. An entity may opt to provide the reader with additional narrative text to better understand the nature of investments in debt and equity securities which are categorized as Available-for-sale.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 115 -Paragraph 12 -Subparagraph b falsefalseMarketable securities, current and noncurrent4false0us-gaap_InvestmentsFairValueDisclosureus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse20010002001falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item represents investment securities as of the balance sheet date which may include marketable securities, derivative financial instruments, and investments accounted for under the equity method.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 115 -Paragraph 13 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 115 -Paragraph 12 -Subparagraph a Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph a, f, g -Article 7 falsefalseInvestments, Fair Value Disclosure5false0us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyContractAssetFairValueDisclosureus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse59140005914falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse2186600021866falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item represents contracts related to the exchange of different currencies, including foreign currency options, forward (delivery or nondelivery) contracts, and swaps entered into and existing as of the balance sheet date.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseForeign exchange forward contract assets6false0fslr_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesRestrictedFairValueDisclosurefslrfalsedebitinstantEstimated fair value of restricted available for sale securities.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse147471000147471falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse8598400085984falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryEstimated fair value of restricted available for sale securities.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseRestricted investments (excluding restricted cash)7false0fslr_NotesReceivableNoncurrentFairValueDisclosurefslrfalsedebitinstantNotes receivable, fair value noncurrent disclosurefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse98520009852falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse93140009314falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryNotes receivable, fair value noncurrent disclosureNo authoritative reference available.falsefalseNotes receivable - noncurrent8false0us-gaap_LoansPayableFairValueDisclosureus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse131700000131700falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse237391000237391falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. Fair value of Loans Payable at the balance sheet date.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseLong-term debt, including current maturities9false0fslr_InterestRateSwapLiabilityFairValueDisclosurefslrfalsecreditinstantInterest rate swap liability fair value disclosure.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse297000297falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse12190001219falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryInterest rate swap liability fair value disclosure.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseInterest rate swap contract liabilities10false0us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyContractsLiabilityFairValueDisclosureus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse4738100047381falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse2281500022815falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item represents contracts related to the exchange of different currencies, including foreign currency options, forward (delivery or nondelivery) contracts, and swaps entered into and existing as of the balance sheet date.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseForeign exchange forward contract liabilities11false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.firstsolar.com/role/note10.fairvaluemeasurementdetailsbalancesheetgrouping1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingDisclosureItemAmountsAxis} : Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] 3/31/2011 USD ($) $I2011Q1_us-gaap_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingDisclosureItemAmountsAxis_us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001274494instant2011-03-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseEstimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]us-gaap_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingDisclosureItemAmountsAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMemberus-gaap_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingDisclosureItemAmountsAxisexplicitMemberusdStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$4falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingDisclosureItemAmountsAxis} : Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] 12/31/2010 USD ($) $I2010Q4_us-gaap_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingDisclosureItemAmountsAxis_us-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001274494instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseEstimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]us-gaap_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingDisclosureItemAmountsAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMemberus-gaap_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingDisclosureItemAmountsAxisexplicitMemberusdStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseEstimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]12true0us-gaap_FairValueBalanceSheetGroupingFinancialStatementCaptionsLineItemsus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli: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.falsefalseFair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]13false0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesFairValueDisclosureus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse355226000355226falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse348160000348160falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item represents Available-for-sale Securities which consist of all investments in certain debt and equity securities neither classified as trading or held-to-maturity securities. A debt security represents a creditor relationship with an enterprise. Debt securities include, among other items, US Treasury securities, US government securities, municipal securities, corporate bonds, convertible debt, commercial paper, and all securitized debt instruments. An equity security represents an ownership interest in an enterprise or the right to acquire or dispose of an ownership interest in an enterprise at fixed or determinable prices. Equity securities include, among other things, common stock, certain preferred stock, warrant rights, call options, and put options, but do not include convertible debt. An entity may opt to provide the reader with additional narrative text to better understand the nature of investments in debt and equity securities which are categorized as Available-for-sale.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 115 -Paragraph 12 -Subparagraph b falsefalseMarketable securities, current and noncurrent14false0us-gaap_InvestmentsFairValueDisclosureus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse20010002001falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item represents investment securities as of the balance sheet date which may include marketable securities, derivative financial instruments, and investments accounted for under the equity method.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 115 -Paragraph 13 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 115 -Paragraph 12 -Subparagraph a Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph a, f, g -Article 7 falsefalseInvestments, Fair Value Disclosure15false0us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyContractAssetFairValueDisclosureus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse59140005914falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse2186600021866falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item represents contracts related to the exchange of different currencies, including foreign currency options, forward (delivery or nondelivery) contracts, and swaps entered into and existing as of the balance sheet date.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseForeign exchange forward contract assets16false0fslr_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesRestrictedFairValueDisclosurefslrfalsedebitinstantEstimated fair value of restricted available for sale securities.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse147471000147471falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse8598400085984falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryEstimated fair value of restricted available for sale securities.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseRestricted investments (excluding restricted cash)17false0fslr_NotesReceivableNoncurrentFairValueDisclosurefslrfalsedebitinstantNotes receivable, fair value noncurrent disclosurefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse90850009085falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse88360008836falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryNotes receivable, fair value noncurrent disclosureNo authoritative reference available.falsefalseNotes receivable - noncurrent18false0us-gaap_LoansPayableFairValueDisclosureus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse133392000133392falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse240176000240176falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. Fair value of Loans Payable at the balance sheet date.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseLong-term debt, including current maturities19false0fslr_InterestRateSwapLiabilityFairValueDisclosurefslrfalsecreditinstantInterest rate swap liability fair value disclosure.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse297000297falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse12190001219falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryInterest rate swap liability fair value disclosure.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseInterest rate swap contract liabilities20false0us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyContractsLiabilityFairValueDisclosureus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse4738100047381falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse2281500022815falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item represents contracts related to the exchange of different currencies, including foreign currency options, forward (delivery or nondelivery) contracts, and swaps entered into and existing as of the balance sheet date.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseForeign exchange forward contract liabilities220Note 10. Fair Value Measurement (Details) - Balance Sheet Grouping (USD $)ThousandsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue