Significant Accounting Policies -Summary of Cumulative Effect of Adoption on Consolidated Statement of Operations (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Net revenues	$ 63,125	$ 70,772	$ 63,355	$ 65,725	$ 73,720	$ 78,035	$ 74,196	$ 65,269	$ 262,977	$ 291,220	$ 227,830
Cost of revenues									140,011	152,249	126,174
Gross margin	29,761	33,002	29,117	31,086	33,873	39,004	35,883	30,211	122,966	138,971	101,656
Income before income taxes									14,887	32,933	(98)
Provision for income taxes									778	1,087	(356)
Consolidated net income	1,315	5,932	2,556	4,306	6,907	13,048	7,909	3,982	14,109	31,846	258
Net income attributable to Vicor Corporation	$ 1,312	$ 5,937	$ 2,563	$ 4,286	$ 6,910	$ 13,012	$ 7,860	$ 3,943	$ 14,098	31,725	$ 167
Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 [Member] | Adjustments [Member]
Net revenues										(3,946)
Cost of revenues										(2,149)
Gross margin										(1,797)
Income before income taxes										(1,797)
Provision for income taxes										(59)
Consolidated net income										(1,738)
Net income attributable to Vicor Corporation										(1,738)
Accounting Standards Update 2014-09 [Member] | Balances without adoption of Topic 606 [Member]
Net revenues										287,274
Cost of revenues										150,100
Gross margin										137,174
Income before income taxes										31,136
Provision for income taxes										1,028
Consolidated net income										30,108
Net income attributable to Vicor Corporation										$ 29,987