Condensed Consolidated Statements of Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Total Vicor Corporation Stockholders' Equity [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]	Class B Common Stock [Member] Common Stock [Member]
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2021	$ 423,905	$ 439	$ 345,664	$ 217,633	$ (1,328)	$ (138,927)	$ 423,599	$ 306	$ 118
Issuance of Common Stock under employee stock plans	4,147	1	4,146				4,147
Stock-based compensation expense	7,445		7,445				7,445
Components of comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Net income (loss)	17,365			17,384			17,384	(19)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(1)				49		49	(50)
Total comprehensive income (loss)	17,364						17,433	(69)
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2022	452,861	440	357,255	235,017	(1,279)	(138,927)	452,624	237	118
Beginning Balance at Jun. 30, 2022	445,104	440	352,253	233,225	(2,246)	(138,927)	444,863	241	118
Issuance of Common Stock under employee stock plans	2,173		2,173				2,173
Stock-based compensation expense	2,829		2,829				2,829
Components of comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Net income (loss)	1,795			1,792			1,792	3
Other comprehensive income (loss)	960				967		967	(7)
Total comprehensive income (loss)	2,755						2,759	(4)
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2022	452,861	440	357,255	235,017	(1,279)	(138,927)	452,624	237	118
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2022	464,336	441	360,365	243,079	(988)	(138,927)	464,088	248	118
Issuance of Common Stock under employee stock plans	10,503	4	10,499				10,503
Stock-based compensation expense	9,287		9,287				9,287
Components of comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Net income (loss)	44,936			44,927			44,927	9
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(278)				(257)		(257)	(21)
Total comprehensive income (loss)	44,658						44,670	(12)
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2023	528,784	445	380,151	288,006	(1,245)	(138,927)	528,548	236	118
Beginning Balance at Jun. 30, 2023	501,019	443	368,914	271,424	(1,195)	(138,927)	500,777	242	118
Issuance of Common Stock under employee stock plans	7,781	2	7,779				7,781
Stock-based compensation expense	3,458		3,458				3,458
Components of comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Net income (loss)	16,583			16,582			16,582	1
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(57)				(50)		(50)	(7)
Total comprehensive income (loss)	16,526						16,532	(6)
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2023	$ 528,784	$ 445	$ 380,151	$ 288,006	$ (1,245)	$ (138,927)	$ 528,548	$ 236	$ 118