Document And Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Oct. 26, 2016
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	3D SYSTEMS CORP
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Central Index Key	0000910638
Trading Symbol	ddd
Amendment Flag	false
Document Type	10-Q
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2016
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		112,359,693