Name:	csiq_DisposalOfAssetsHeldForSaleAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	csiq_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Amount of gain (loss) on sale or disposal of solar power systems.

No definition available.

Name:	csiq_GainLossOnDispositionOfSolarPowerSystems
Namespace Prefix:	csiq_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Amount of gain (loss) on government grants.

No definition available.

Name:	csiq_GainLossOnGovernmentGrants
Namespace Prefix:	csiq_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

The net loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment included in other operating expense.

No definition available.

Name:	csiq_NetLossDisposalPropertyPlantEquipmentOtherOperatingExpense
Namespace Prefix:	csiq_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

The net amount (to the extent disclosed within this portion of the income statement) by which an insurance settlement exceeds incremental costs incurred from the event causing an interruption of business, plus the insurance award for earnings lost from the event, such as a natural catastrophe, explosion or fire.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114868897&loc=SL114872001-224240

Name:	us-gaap_GainOnBusinessInterruptionInsuranceRecovery
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

The net amount of other operating income and expenses, the components of which are not separately disclosed on the income statement, from items that are associated with the entity's normal revenue producing operations.

No definition available.