Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net revenues	$ 262,977,000	$ 291,220,000	$ 227,830,000
Cost of revenues	140,011,000	152,249,000	126,174,000
Gross margin	122,966,000	138,971,000	101,656,000
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative	62,557,000	62,224,000	58,092,000
Research and development	46,588,000	44,286,000	44,924,000
Severance and other charges		402,000
Total operating expenses	109,145,000	106,912,000	103,016,000
Income (loss) from operations	13,821,000	32,059,000	(1,360,000)
Other income (expense), net:
Total unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, net	(16,000)	1,000	17,000
Portion of losses (gains) recognized in other comprehensive income (loss)	20,000	6,000	(6,000)
Net credit gains recognized in earnings	4,000	7,000	11,000
Other income (expense), net	1,062,000	867,000	1,251,000
Total other income (expense), net	1,066,000	874,000	1,262,000
Income (loss) before income taxes	14,887,000	32,933,000	(98,000)
Less: Provision (benefit) for income taxes	778,000	1,087,000	(356,000)
Consolidated net income	14,109,000	31,846,000	258,000
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	11,000	121,000	91,000
Net income attributable to Vicor Corporation	$ 14,098,000	$ 31,725,000	$ 167,000
Net income per common share attributable to Vicor Corporation:
Basic	$ 0.35	$ 0.80	$ 0.00
Diluted	$ 0.34	$ 0.78	$ 0.00
Shares used to compute net income per common share attributable to Vicor Corporation:
Basic	40,330	39,872	39,228
Diluted	41,677	40,729	39,933