Name:	csiq_AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationSolarPowerSystems
Namespace Prefix:	csiq_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Amount after accumulated depreciation of ground-mounted projects and roof top systems intend to be held for use.

No definition available.

Name:	csiq_SolarPowerSystems
Namespace Prefix:	csiq_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Amount before accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization of solar power systems used in the normal conduct of business.

No definition available.

Name:	csiq_SolarPowerSystemsGross
Namespace Prefix:	csiq_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Line 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.

No definition available.

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

Represents the amount of solar power systems reclassified to project assets.

No definition available.

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

The amount of expense recognized in the current period that reflects the allocation of the cost of tangible assets over the assets' useful lives. Includes production and non-production related depreciation.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 360
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391035&loc=d3e2868-110229

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3602-108585