Cover Page - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Feb. 16, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2021
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2021
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Entity Registrant Name	VICOR CORPORATION
Entity Central Index Key	0000751978
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
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 Annual 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
Entity Public Float			$ 2,212,125,000
ICFR Auditor Attestation Flag	true
Auditor Name	KPMG LLP
Auditor Firm ID	185
Auditor Location	Boston, MA
Common Stock [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		32,172,825
Common Class B [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		11,758,218