Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 21, 2014 Common Class A	Mar. 21, 2014 Common Class B
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2013
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2013
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Trading Symbol	RGSE
Entity Registrant Name	Real Goods Solar, Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	0001425565
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Filer Category	Smaller Reporting Company
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding			44,946,489	0
Entity Public Float		$ 56,838,284