2.2.0.25truefalse2427402 - Disclosure - Note 14. Commitments and Contingencies (Details)truefalsefalse1falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis} : JP Morgan Chase Bank NA And Bank Of America [Member] 3/31/2011 USD ($) $I2011Q1_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis_fslr_JpMorganChaseBankNaAndBankOfAmericaMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001274494instant2011-03-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseJP Morgan Chase Bank NA And Bank Of America [Member]us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldifslr_JpMorganChaseBankNaAndBankOfAmericaMemberus-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxisexplicitMemberusdStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170PureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepure0USDUSD$2falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis} : JP Morgan Chase Bank NA And Bank Of America [Member] 12/31/2010 USD ($) $I2010Q4_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis_fslr_JpMorganChaseBankNaAndBankOfAmericaMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001274494instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseJP Morgan Chase Bank NA And Bank Of America [Member]us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldifslr_JpMorganChaseBankNaAndBankOfAmericaMemberus-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxisexplicitMemberusdStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$3falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis} : JP Morgan Chase Bank NA And Bank Of America [Member] 9/4/2009 USD ($) $I2009Q4SD-Sept4_us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis_fslr_JpMorganChaseBankNaAndBankOfAmericaMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001274494instant2009-09-04T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseJP Morgan Chase Bank NA And Bank Of America [Member]us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldifslr_JpMorganChaseBankNaAndBankOfAmericaMemberus-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxisexplicitMemberusdStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$2true0us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityLineItemsus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli: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.falsefalseLine of Credit Facility [Line Items]3false0us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAmountOutstandingus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse140800000140800000falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse126400000126400000falsetruefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAmount borrowed under the credit facility as of the balance-sheet date.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 19, 22 -Article 5 falsefalseLine of credit facility, amount outstanding4false0us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityRemainingBorrowingCapacityus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse459200000459200000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAmount of borrowing capacity currently available under the credit facility (current borrowing capacity less the amount of borrowings outstanding).Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 19, 22 -Article 5 falsefalseLine of credit facility, remaining borrowing capacity5false0us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCurrentBorrowingCapacityus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse600000000600000000falsetruefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse300000000300000000falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAmount of current borrowing capacity under the credit facility considering any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed (for example, borrowings may be limited by the amount of current assets), but without considering any amounts currently outstanding under the facility.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 19, 22 -Article 5 falsefalseLine of credit facility, current borrowing capacity34Note 14. Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (JP Morgan Chase Bank NA And Bank Of America [Member], USD $)NoRoundingUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue