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, 2016	$ 131,017	$ 397	$ 176,344	$ 93,438	$ (561)	$ (138,927)	$ 130,809	$ 208	$ 118
Sales of Common Stock	3,300	4	3,296				3,300
Stock-based compensation expense	1,735		1,735				1,735
Other	20		20				20
Components of comprehensive income, net of tax
Net income	258			167			167	91
Other comprehensive income	89				83		83	6
Total comprehensive income	347						250	97
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	136,419	401	181,395	93,605	(478)	(138,927)	136,114	305	118
Sales of Common Stock	6,782	6	6,776				6,782
Stock-based compensation expense	3,396		3,396				3,396
Issuances of stock through employee stock purchase plan	1,874	1	1,873				1,874
Cumulative effect of adoption of new accounting principle (Topic 606)	3,670			3,670			3,670
Other	11	(6)	17				11
Components of comprehensive income, net of tax
Net income	31,846			31,725			31,725	121
Other comprehensive income	92				84		84	8
Total comprehensive income	31,938						31,809	129
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	184,090	402	193,457	129,000	(394)	(138,927)	183,656	434	118
Sales of Common Stock	2,437	2	2,435				2,437
Stock-based compensation expense	3,036		3,036				3,036
Issuances of stock through employee stock purchase plan	2,305	1	2,304				2,305
Noncontrolling interest dividend paid	(139)							(139)
Other	19		19				19
Components of comprehensive income, net of tax
Net income	14,109			14,098			14,098	11
Other comprehensive income	13				11		11	2
Total comprehensive income	14,122						14,109	13
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 205,870	$ 405	$ 201,251	$ 143,098	$ (383)	$ (138,927)	$ 205,562	$ 308	$ 118