Revenue from Contracts with Customers - Disaggregation of Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 449,190	$ 348,225
SunPower Technologies
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	159,322	170,005
SunPower Energy Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	289,868	178,220
Module and component sales
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	260,037	195,180
Module and component sales | SunPower Technologies
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	94,299	79,524
Module and component sales | SunPower Energy Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	165,738	115,656
Solar power systems sales and EPC services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	168,826	137,018
Solar power systems sales and EPC services | SunPower Technologies
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	65,023	90,481
Solar power systems sales and EPC services | SunPower Energy Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	103,803	46,537
Operations and maintenance
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	15,070	9,244
Operations and maintenance | SunPower Technologies
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	0	0
Operations and maintenance | SunPower Energy Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	15,070	9,244
Residential leasing
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	1,324	3,884
Residential leasing | SunPower Technologies
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	0	0
Residential leasing | SunPower Energy Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	1,324	3,884
Solar services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	3,933	2,899
Solar services | SunPower Technologies
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	0	0
Solar services | SunPower Energy Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 3,933	$ 2,899