Condensed Consolidated Statements of Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock and Stockholders' Equity (Deficit) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Initial Public Offering	Private Placement	Redeemable convertible preferred stock	Redeemable convertible preferred stock Initial Public Offering	Series D-1 Redeemable Convertible Preferred Shares	Series E Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock	Series E-2 Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock	Common Stock	Common Stock Initial Public Offering	Common Stock Private Placement	Additional Paid-in Capital	Additional Paid-in Capital Initial Public Offering	Additional Paid-in Capital Private Placement	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Accumulated Deficit	Total TuSimple Holdings Inc. Stockholders’ Deficit	Noncontrolling Interests
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019				74,939,388
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2019				$ 293,736
Ending Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2020				74,939,388
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2020				$ 293,736
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019									56,516,425
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2019	$ (219,414)								$ 6			$ 0			$ (658)	$ (218,718)	$ (219,370)	$ (44)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock from exercise of options (in shares)									2,125,000
Stock-based compensation	1,227											1,227					1,227
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest in subsidiary															(44)		(44)	44
Foreign currency translation adjustment	2														2		2
Net loss	(25,761)															(25,761)	(25,761)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2020									58,641,425
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2020	(243,946)								$ 6			1,227			(700)	(244,479)	(243,946)	0
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019				74,939,388
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2019				$ 293,736
Ending Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2020				76,788,483
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2020				$ 308,736
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019									56,516,425
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2019	(219,414)								$ 6			0			(658)	(218,718)	(219,370)	(44)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Foreign currency translation adjustment	475
Ending Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2020									60,542,721
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2020	(364,854)								$ 6			0			(227)	(364,633)	(364,854)	0
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2020				74,939,388
Beginning Balance at Mar. 31, 2020				$ 293,736
Ending Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2020				74,939,388
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2020				$ 293,736
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2020									58,641,425
Beginning Balance at Mar. 31, 2020	(243,946)								$ 6			1,227			(700)	(244,479)	(243,946)	0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock-based compensation	453											453					453
Foreign currency translation adjustment	188														188		188
Net loss	(28,084)															(28,084)	(28,084)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2020									58,641,425
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2020	(271,389)								$ 6			1,680			(512)	(272,563)	(271,389)	0
Increase (Decrease) in Temporary Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of redeemable convertible preferred stock, net of issuance costs (in shares)						1,849,095
Issuance of redeemable convertible preferred stock, net of issuance costs						$ 3,057
Accretion of redeemable convertible preferred stock to redemption value				$ 11,943
Ending Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2020				76,788,483
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2020				$ 308,736
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of restricted ordinary shares (in shares)									1,899,680
Issuance of common stock from exercise of options (in shares)									1,616
Accretion of redeemable convertible preferred stock to redemption value	(11,943)											(9,325)				(2,618)	(11,943)
Stock-based compensation	7,645											7,645					7,645
Foreign currency translation adjustment	285														285		285
Net loss	(89,452)															(89,452)	(89,452)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2020									60,542,721
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2020	$ (364,854)								$ 6			0			(227)	(364,633)	$ (364,854)	$ 0
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2020	102,074,703			102,074,703
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2020	$ 664,791			$ 664,791
Increase (Decrease) in Temporary Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of redeemable convertible preferred stock, net of issuance costs (in shares)							4,650,999
Issuance of redeemable convertible preferred stock, net of issuance costs							$ 61,631
Issuance of redeemable convertible preferred stock from the exercise of warrants (in shares)							9,477,073	4,331,644
Issuance of redeemable convertible preferred stock from the exercise of warrants							$ 379,084	$ 173,275
Accretion of redeemable convertible preferred stock to redemption value				$ 4,135
Ending Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2021				120,534,419
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2021				$ 1,282,916
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2020									60,543,337
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2020	(405,473)								$ 6			0			(301)	(405,178)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock from exercise of options (in shares)									60,616
Issuance of common stock from exercise of options	1											1
Vesting of early exercised stock options	21											21
Accretion of redeemable convertible preferred stock to redemption value	(4,135)											(4,135)
Stock-based compensation	6,289											6,289
Foreign currency translation adjustment	911														911
Net loss	(385,160)															(385,160)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2021									60,603,953
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2021	$ (787,546)								$ 6			2,176			610	(790,338)
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2020	102,074,703			102,074,703
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2020	$ 664,791			$ 664,791
Ending Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2021	0			0	0
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2021	$ 0			$ 0
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2020									60,543,337
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2020	(405,473)								$ 6			0			(301)	(405,178)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Foreign currency translation adjustment	63
Ending Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2021									212,994,830
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2021	1,410,039								$ 21			2,432,613			(238)	(1,022,357)
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2021				120,534,419
Beginning Balance at Mar. 31, 2021				$ 1,282,916
Increase (Decrease) in Temporary Equity [Roll Forward]
Conversion of redeemable convertible preferred stock in connection with initial public offering (in shares)					(120,534,419)
Conversion of redeemable convertible preferred stock in connection with initial public offering					$ (1,282,916)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2021				0
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2021				$ 0
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2021									60,603,953
Beginning Balance at Mar. 31, 2021	(787,546)								$ 6			2,176			610	(790,338)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Vesting of early exercised stock options	21											21
Conversion of convertible common stock in connection with initial public offering (in shares)										120,534,419
Conversion of convertible common stock in connection with initial public offering		$ 1,282,916								$ 12			$ 1,282,904
Issuance of common stock (in shares)										27,027,027	874,999
Issuance of common stock		$ 1,027,374	$ 35,000							$ 3			$ 1,027,371	$ 35,000
Stock-based compensation	52,509											52,509
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(775)														(775)
Net loss	(116,529)															(116,529)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2021									209,040,398
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2021	$ 1,492,970								$ 21			2,399,981			(165)	(906,867)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2021	0			0	0
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2021	$ 0			$ 0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock from exercise of options (in shares)									183,648
Issuance of common stock from exercise of options	529											529
Issuance of common stock related to release of RSU and SVAs (in shares)									3,770,784
Vesting of early exercised stock options	21											21
Stock-based compensation	32,082											32,082
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(73)														(73)
Net loss	(115,490)															(115,490)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2021									212,994,830
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2021	$ 1,410,039								$ 21			$ 2,432,613			$ (238)	$ (1,022,357)