2.2.0.25truefalse2422401 - Disclosure - Note 11. Economic Development Funding (Details)truefalseIn Millionsfalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse3/31/2011 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$2falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis} : Taxable Investment Incentives [Member] 3/31/2011 USD ($) $I2011Q1_us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis_fslr_TaxableInvestmentIncentivesMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001274494instant2011-03-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseTaxable Investment Incentives [Member]us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldifslr_TaxableInvestmentIncentivesMemberus-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxisexplicitMemberusdStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$3falsefalseEURtruefalse{us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis} : Taxable Investment Incentives [Member] 3/31/2011 EUR (€) €I2011Q1_us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis_fslr_TaxableInvestmentIncentivesMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001274494instant2011-03-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseTaxable Investment Incentives [Member]us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldifslr_TaxableInvestmentIncentivesMemberus-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxisexplicitMemberEuroStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217EURiso42170EUREUR€4falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis} : German Investment Grant Act [Member] 3/31/2011 USD ($) $I2011Q1_us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis_fslr_GermanInvestmentGrantActMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001274494instant2011-03-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseGerman Investment Grant Act [Member]us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldifslr_GermanInvestmentGrantActMemberus-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxisexplicitMemberusdStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$5falsefalseEURtruefalse{us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis} : German Investment Grant Act [Member] 3/31/2011 EUR (€) €I2011Q1_us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis_fslr_GermanInvestmentGrantActMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001274494instant2011-03-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseGerman Investment Grant Act [Member]us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldifslr_GermanInvestmentGrantActMemberus-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxisexplicitMemberEuroStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217EURiso42170EUREUR€4true0us-gaap_AccountsNotesAndLoansReceivableLineItemsus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseOtherxbrli: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.falsefalseAccounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]5false0us-gaap_GrantsReceivableCurrentus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse44000004.4falsetruefalsetruefalse3truefalsefalse31000003.1falsetruefalsetruefalse4truefalsefalse1210000012.1falsetruefalsetruefalse5truefalsefalse86000008.6falsetruefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryCarrying amount as of the balance sheet date of amounts due under the terms of governmental, corporate, or foundation grants. For classified balance sheets, represents the current amount receivable, that is amounts expected to be collected within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 8 -Article 5 falsefalseGrants Receivable, Current6false0fslr_ExchangeRateRatiofslrfalsenainstantThe exchange ratio as of the date.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1truefalsefalse1.411.41falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseExchangeRatexbrli:decimalItemTypedecimalThe exchange ratio as of the date.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseExchange Rate Ratio7false0fslr_TotalGermanGovernmentGrantAmountfslrfalsedebitinstantThe total approximate amount made available to the Company under certain German Government Grants.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse89000008.9falsetruefalsetruefalse3truefalsefalse63000006.3falsetruefalsetruefalse4truefalsefalse2430000024.3falsetruefalsetruefalse5truefalsefalse1720000017.2falsetruefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe total approximate amount made available to the Company under certain German Government Grants.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseTotal German Government Grant Amount54Note 11. Economic Development Funding (Details)HundredThousandsUnKnownUnKnownNoRoundingfalsetrue