Document and Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Oct. 19, 2018
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2018
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2018
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Trading Symbol	VICR
Entity Registrant Name	VICOR CORP
Entity Central Index Key	0000751978
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Smaller Reporting Company	false
Emerging Growth Company	false
Class A Common Stock [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		28,408,092
Class B Common Stock [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		11,758,218