CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EQUITY - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid In Capital [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Accumulated Earnings (Deficit) [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Total 3D Systems Corporation Stockholders' Equity [Member]	Equity Attributable To Noncontrolling Interests [Member]	Total
Balance, Value at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 112	$ 1,245,462	$ (374)	$ 72,124	$ (24,406)	$ 1,292,918	$ 1,207	$ 1,294,125
Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2014	112,233		709
Tax benefits (provision) from share-based payment arrangements		(1,243)				(1,243)		(1,243)
Issuance (repurchase) of stock, Value	$ 1	786	$ (652)			135		135
Issuance (repurchase) of stock, Shares	882		183
Stock-based compensation expense, Value		34,733				34,733		34,733
Stock-based compensation expense, Shares
Net income (loss)				(655,492)		(655,492)	(8,433)	(663,925)
Noncontrolling interests for business combinations							6,783	6,783
Pension adjustment					338	338		338
Foreign currency translation adjustment					(15,480)	(15,480)	(820)	(16,300)
Balance, Value at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 113	1,279,738	$ (1,026)	(583,368)	(39,548)	655,909	(1,263)	654,646
Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2015	113,115		892
Issuance (repurchase) of stock, Value	$ 2	(1,241)	$ (1,632)			(2,871)		(2,871)
Issuance (repurchase) of stock, Shares	1,998		606
Issuance of stock for acquisitions, Shares
Purchase of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interest		(2,364)				(2,364)	(1,169)	(3,533)
Stock-based compensation expense, Value		31,295				31,295		31,295
Stock-based compensation expense, Shares
Net income (loss)				(38,419)		(38,419)	(846)	(39,265)
Pension adjustment					(902)	(902)		(902)
Liquidation of non-US entity					288	288		288
Foreign currency translation adjustment					(13,063)	(13,063)	105	(12,958)
Balance, Value at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 115	1,307,428	$ (2,658)	(621,787)	(53,225)	629,873	(3,173)	626,700
Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2016	115,113		1,498
Issuance (repurchase) of stock, Value			$ (5,545)			(5,545)		(5,545)
Issuance (repurchase) of stock, Shares	1,720		721
Issuance of stock for acquisitions, Value		3,208				3,208		3,208
Issuance of stock for acquisitions, Shares	192
Purchase of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interest		(1,440)			50	(1,390)	(860)	(2,250)
Stock-based compensation expense, Value		27,260				27,260		27,260
Stock-based compensation expense, Shares
Net income (loss)				(66,191)		(66,191)	868	(65,323)
Pension adjustment					220	220		220
Foreign currency translation adjustment					31,419	31,419	259	31,678
Balance, Value at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 115	1,326,250	$ (8,203)	(677,772)	(21,536)	618,854	(2,906)	615,948
Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2017	117,025		2,219
Cumulative impact of change in accounting policy		$ (10,206)		$ 10,206