Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Details)		9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 01, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) Segment BusinessActivity	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Number of operating segments | Segment			1
Number of business activities | BusinessActivity			1
Bad debt expense			$ 1,355,000	$ 1,998,000	$ 546,000
Uncollectible receivables written off			$ 1,800,000	1,100,000	100,000
Property plant and equipment depreciation method			Straight-line basis
Capitalized additional costs associated with software			$ 4,900,000	8,300,000	7,300,000
Intangible assets amortization method			Straight-line basis
Impairment of long-lived assets			$ 0	0	0
Initial lease term			20 years
Percentage of lesser lease term than estimated economic life			75.00%
Percentage of minimum lease payments exceeds fair value under lease classification criteria			90.00%
Shipping and handling fees charged to customers			$ 2,600,000	2,600,000	2,400,000
Advertising costs			30,200,000	34,800,000	$ 16,900,000
Solar materials purchases from top five suppliers			$ 184,900,000	$ 160,500,000
Subsequent Event | ASU No. 2016-09
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Increase (decrease) in deferred tax liabilities	$ (3,300,000)
Subsequent Event | ASU 2016-16
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Prepaid tax assets, net	378,200,000
Recognized deferred tax assets	$ 378,500,000
Inverters
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful life			10 years
Solar Energy Systems
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful life		20 years	35 years
Solar Energy Systems | Minimum
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful life			35 years