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]
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 142,337	$ 392	$ 169,474	$ 108,645	$ (526)	$ (138,927)	$ 139,176	$ 3,161	$ 118
Sales of Common Stock	788	1	787				788
Noncontrolling interest dividends paid	(162)							(162)
Stock-based compensation expense	1,634		1,634				1,634
Other	6		6				6
Components of comprehensive income, net of tax
Net income (loss)	(14,070)			(13,887)			(13,887)	(183)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	19				55		55	(36)
Total comprehensive income (loss)	(14,051)						(13,832)	(219)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	130,552	393	171,901	94,758	(471)	(138,927)	127,772	2,780	118
Sales of Common Stock	820	2	818				820
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest	(360)		(144)				(144)	(216)
Disposition of consolidated subsidiary	(1,742)		(5)				(5)	(1,737)
Stock-based compensation expense	1,782		1,782				1,782
Net settlement stock option exercises	(22)		(22)				(22)
Other	7		7				7
Components of comprehensive income, net of tax
Net income (loss)	5,159			4,927			4,927	232
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(111)				(106)		(106)	(5)
Total comprehensive income (loss)	5,048						4,821	227
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	136,085	395	174,337	99,685	(577)	(138,927)	135,031	1,054	118
Sales of Common Stock	1,589	2	1,587				1,589
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest	(918)		(81)				(81)	(837)
Stock-based compensation expense	506		506				506
Net settlement stock option exercises	(5)		(5)				(5)
Components of comprehensive income, net of tax
Net income (loss)	(6,261)			(6,247)			(6,247)	(14)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	21				16		16	5
Total comprehensive income (loss)	(6,240)						(6,231)	(9)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 131,017	$ 397	$ 176,344	$ 93,438	$ (561)	$ (138,927)	$ 130,809	$ 208	$ 118