Segment and Geographical Information - Reconciliation of Other Significant Reconciling Items from Segments to Consolidated (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Mar. 29, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 449,190	$ 348,225
Segment gross profit as reviewed by CODM	37,448	(37,285)
Adjusted EBITDA	(514)	(100,448)
SunPower Energy Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	289,868	178,220
SunPower Technologies
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	159,322	170,005
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total segment revenue as reviewed by CODM	543,250	472,359
Segment gross profit as reviewed by CODM	48,201	17,015
Adjusted EBITDA	7,129	(22,411)
Operating Segments \| SunPower Energy Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total segment revenue as reviewed by CODM	295,261	241,725
Segment gross profit as reviewed by CODM	35,274	17,873
Adjusted EBITDA	4,482	(13,911)
Operating Segments \| SunPower Technologies
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total segment revenue as reviewed by CODM	247,989	230,634
Segment gross profit as reviewed by CODM	12,927	(858)
Adjusted EBITDA	2,647	(8,500)
Intersegment Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	(88,875)	(60,800)
Segment gross profit as reviewed by CODM	8,763	7,636
Intersegment Eliminations \| SunPower Energy Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	0	0
Intersegment Eliminations \| SunPower Technologies
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	88,875	60,800
Channels \| Operating Segments \| SunPower Energy Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	232,141	186,709
Channels \| Operating Segments \| SunPower Technologies
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	0	0
North America Commercial \| Operating Segments \| SunPower Energy Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	48,050	45,063
North America Commercial \| Operating Segments \| SunPower Technologies
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	0	0
Operations and maintenance \| Operating Segments \| SunPower Energy Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	15,070	9,953
Operations and maintenance \| Operating Segments \| SunPower Technologies
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	0	0
Module sales \| Operating Segments \| SunPower Energy Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	0	0
Module sales \| Operating Segments \| SunPower Technologies
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	164,061	168,940
Development services and legacy power plant \| Operating Segments \| SunPower Energy Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	0	0
Development services and legacy power plant \| Operating Segments \| SunPower Technologies
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	$ (4,947)	$ 894

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