Revenue from Contracts with Customers - Disaggregation of Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 28, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 28, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 352,914	$ 436,281	$ 802,104	$ 784,506
SunPower Technologies
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	135,028	224,554	294,349	394,558
SunPower Energy Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	217,886	211,727	507,755	389,948
Module and component sales
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	196,582	257,512	456,618	452,691
Module and component sales | SunPower Technologies
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	83,237	113,805	177,535	193,328
Module and component sales | SunPower Energy Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	113,345	143,707	279,083	259,363
Solar power systems sales and EPC services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	141,676	158,053	310,503	295,072
Solar power systems sales and EPC services | SunPower Technologies
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	51,791	110,749	116,814	201,230
Solar power systems sales and EPC services | SunPower Energy Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	89,885	47,304	193,689	93,842
Operations and maintenance
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	9,397	11,276	24,467	20,520
Operations and maintenance | SunPower Technologies
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	0	0	0	0
Operations and maintenance | SunPower Energy Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	9,397	11,276	24,467	20,520
Residential leasing
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	1,329	1,676	2,653	5,560
Residential leasing | SunPower Technologies
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	0	0	0	0
Residential leasing | SunPower Energy Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	1,329	1,676	2,653	5,560
Solar services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	3,930	7,764	7,863	10,663
Solar services | SunPower Technologies
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	0	0	0	0
Solar services | SunPower Energy Services
Disaggregation of Revenue [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 3,930	$ 7,764	$ 7,863	$ 10,663