Condensed 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, 2018	$ 184,090	$ 402	$ 193,457	$ 129,000	$ (394)	$ (138,927)	$ 183,656	$ 434	$ 118
Issuance of Common Stock under employee stock plans	1,707	1	1,706				1,707
Stock-based compensation expense	1,539		1,539				1,539
Other	(4)		(4)				(4)
Components of comprehensive income, net of tax:
Net income	6,862			6,849			6,849	13
Other comprehensive income	122				116		116	6
Total comprehensive income	6,984						6,965	19
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2019	194,316	403	196,698	135,849	(278)	(138,927)	193,863	453	118
Beginning Balance at Mar. 31, 2019	190,692	403	195,799	133,286	(436)	(138,927)	190,243	449	118
Issuance of Common Stock under employee stock plans	137		137				137
Stock-based compensation expense	766		766				766
Other	(4)		(4)				(4)
Components of comprehensive income, net of tax:
Net income	2,556			2,563			2,563	(7)
Other comprehensive income	169				158		158	11
Total comprehensive income	2,725						2,721	4
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2019	194,316	403	196,698	135,849	(278)	(138,927)	193,863	453	118
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2019	205,870	405	201,251	143,098	(383)	(138,927)	205,562	308	118
Issuance of Common Stock under employee stock plans	7,385	8	7,377				7,385
Issuance of Common Stock in public offering (see Note 5)	109,732	18	109,714				109,732
Stock-based compensation expense	2,646		2,646				2,646
Components of comprehensive income, net of tax:
Net income	941			932			932	9
Other comprehensive income	69				67		67	2
Total comprehensive income	1,010						999	11
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2020	326,643	431	320,988	144,030	(316)	(138,927)	326,324	319	118
Beginning Balance at Mar. 31, 2020	206,997	407	204,020	141,363	(300)	(138,927)	206,681	316	118
Issuance of Common Stock under employee stock plans	5,324	6	5,318				5,324
Issuance of Common Stock in public offering (see Note 5)	109,732	18	109,714				109,732
Stock-based compensation expense	1,936		1,936				1,936
Components of comprehensive income, net of tax:
Net income	2,672			2,667			2,667	5
Other comprehensive income	(18)				(16)		(16)	(2)
Total comprehensive income	2,654						2,651	3
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2020	$ 326,643	$ 431	$ 320,988	$ 144,030	$ (316)	$ (138,927)	$ 326,324	$ 319	$ 118