Restructuring (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Jun. 28, 2020 USD ($)	Mar. 29, 2020 USD ($) employees	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Jun. 28, 2020 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Jul. 01, 2018 USD ($) employees
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Non-cash restructuring charges	$ 1,259		$ 2,453	$ 2,835	$ 1,788
Restructuring incurred cost				$ 10,300
February 2018 Restructuring Plan
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Reorganization, number of jobs affected as a percentage of global workforce						3.00%
Minimum | February 2018 Restructuring Plan
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Reorganization, number of jobs affected | employees						150
Non-cash restructuring charges						$ 20,000
Severance costs						11,000
Payments for restructuring						12,000
Real estate lease termination and other associated costs						$ 9,000
Minimum | Spinoff | December 2019 Restructuring Plan
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Reorganization, number of jobs affected | employees		145
Reorganization, number of jobs affected as a percentage of global workforce		3.00%
Restructuring and related cost, exiting period		12 months
Non-cash restructuring charges		$ 16,000
Severance costs		8,000
Retention cost		8,000
Payments for restructuring		$ 14,000
Minimum | Spinoff | December 2019 Restructuring Plan | SunPower Technologies
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Reorganization, number of jobs affected | employees		65
Minimum | Spinoff | December 2019 Restructuring Plan | SunPower Energy Services
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Reorganization, number of jobs affected | employees		80
Maximum | February 2018 Restructuring Plan
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Reorganization, number of jobs affected | employees						250
Non-cash restructuring charges						$ 30,000
Severance costs						16,000
Payments for restructuring						20,000
Real estate lease termination and other associated costs						$ 14,000
Maximum | Spinoff | December 2019 Restructuring Plan
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Reorganization, number of jobs affected | employees		160
Restructuring and related cost, exiting period		18 months
Non-cash restructuring charges		$ 22,000
Severance costs		11,000
Retention cost		11,000
Payments for restructuring		$ 19,000
Maximum | Spinoff | December 2019 Restructuring Plan | SunPower Technologies
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Reorganization, number of jobs affected | employees		70
Maximum | Spinoff | December 2019 Restructuring Plan | SunPower Energy Services
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Reorganization, number of jobs affected | employees		90