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INCOME TAXES - Domestic federal statutory tax rates (Details)
$ in Thousands
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2017
USD ($)
item
Dec. 31, 2016
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2015
USD ($)
Income Taxes        
Federal and provincial income tax rate (as a percent) 27.00% 27.00% 27.00%  
Amount of interest and penalties accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits $ 4,398 $ 3,083    
Changes to the company's liabilities for uncertain tax positions        
Beginning balance 6,181 5,684 $ 9,490  
Addition for tax positions related to the current year 9,806 1,376 1,376  
Reductions for tax positions from prior years/Statute of limitations expirations   (1,094) (5,436)  
Foreign exchange effect   215 254  
Foreign exchange effect (257)      
Ending balance $ 15,730 $ 6,181 $ 5,684 $ 9,490
Canada        
Income Taxes        
Federal and provincial income tax rate (as a percent) 26.50% 26.50% 26.50%  
Canada | Canadian Solar Solutions Inc.        
Income Taxes        
Federal and provincial income tax rate (as a percent) 25.00% 25.00% 25.00%  
United States | Canadian Solar (USA) Inc.        
Income Taxes        
Income tax rate (as a percent) 24.82% 38.61% 37.69%  
United States | Canadian Solar Energy Acquisition Co.        
Income Taxes        
Income tax rate (as a percent) 25.32% 38.32% 43.63%  
Japan | Canadian Solar Japan K.K.        
Income Taxes        
Income tax rate (as a percent) 32.02% 32.02% 35.15%  
Germany | Canadian Solar EMEA GmbH        
Income Taxes        
Income tax rate (as a percent) 33.00% 33.00% 33.00%  
Vietnam | Canadian Solar Manufacturing Vietnam Co., Ltd        
Income Taxes        
Income tax rate (as a percent)       10.00%
Reduced income tax rate from 2020 to 2028 (as a percent) 5.00%      
Thailand | Canadian Solar Manufacturing (Thailand) Co., Ltd.        
Income Taxes        
Income tax rate (as a percent)       20.00%
Number of Board of Investment certificates for tax exemption | item   2    
United Kingdom | Canadian Solar UK Projects Ltd.        
Income Taxes        
Income tax rate (as a percent) 19.00% 19.00% 20.00%  
Hong Kong | HKSI        
Income Taxes        
Income tax rate (as a percent) 16.50% 16.50% 16.50%  
PRC        
Income Taxes        
Period of statute of limitations 3 years      
Period of statute of limitations under special circumstances 5 years      
Period of statute of limitations for transfer pricing related adjustment 10 years      
PRC | CSI Solartronics (Changshu) Co., Ltd        
Income Taxes        
Income tax rate (as a percent) 25.00% 25.00% 25.00%  
PRC | CSI Solar Technologies Inc.        
Income Taxes        
Income tax rate (as a percent) 25.00% 25.00% 25.00%  
PRC | Canadian Solar Manufacturing (Changshu) Inc.        
Income Taxes        
Income tax rate (as a percent) 15.00% 15.00%    
PRC | Canadian Solar Manufacturing (Luoyang) Inc.        
Income Taxes        
Income tax rate (as a percent) 25.00% 25.00% 25.00%  
PRC | SZSP        
Income Taxes        
Income tax rate (as a percent) 25.00% 25.00% 25.00%  
PRC | Suzhou Sanysolar Materials Technology Co., Ltd.        
Income Taxes        
Income tax rate (as a percent) 15.00% 15.00% 15.00%  
PRC | Suzhou Gaochuangte New Energy Development Co., Ltd.        
Income Taxes        
Income tax rate (as a percent) 15.00% 15.00% 15.00%  
PRC | Changshu Tlian Co., Ltd.        
Income Taxes        
Income tax rate (as a percent) 15.00% 15.00%