Cover Page - shares	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jul. 23, 2020
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2020
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Entity Registrant Name	VICOR CORP
Entity Central Index Key	0000751978
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Trading Symbol	VICR
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	0-18277
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	04-2742817
Entity Address, Address Line One	25 Frontage Road
Entity Address, City or Town	Andover
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	01810
City Area Code	978
Local Phone Number	470-2900
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Address, State or Province	MA
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock
Common Stock [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		31,305,645
Common Class B [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		11,758,218