Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net revenues	$ 74,196	$ 57,709	$ 139,465	$ 112,171
Cost of revenues	38,313	31,779	73,371	62,589
Gross margin	35,883	25,930	66,094	49,582
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative	15,814	14,536	31,213	28,559
Research and development	11,403	11,932	22,529	22,939
Severance charge	350		350
Total operating expenses	27,567	26,468	54,092	51,498
Income (loss) from operations	8,316	(538)	12,002	(1,916)
Other income (expense), net:
Total unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities, net	33	39	56	57
Less: portion of gains recognized in other comprehensive income (loss)	(31)	(36)	(52)	(51)
Net credit gains recognized in earnings	2	3	4	6
Other income (expense), net	(46)	357	382	679
Total other income (expense), net	(44)	360	386	685
Income (loss) before income taxes	8,272	(178)	12,388	(1,231)
Less: Provision for income taxes	363	267	497	168
Consolidated net income (loss)	7,909	(445)	11,891	(1,399)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	49	14	88	34
Net income (loss) attributable to Vicor Corporation	$ 7,860	$ (459)	$ 11,803	$ (1,433)
Net income (loss) per common share attributable to Vicor Corporation:
Basic	$ 0.20	$ (0.01)	$ 0.30	$ (0.04)
Diluted	$ 0.19	$ (0.01)	$ 0.29	$ (0.04)
Shares used to compute net income (loss) per common share attributable to Vicor Corporation:
Basic	39,709	39,172	39,594	39,121
Diluted	40,646	39,172	40,406	39,121