Basis of Presentation (Policies)	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2020
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of 3D Systems Corporation and all majority-owned subsidiaries and entities in which a controlling interest is maintained (“3D Systems” or the “Company” or “we” or “us”). All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. A non-controlling interest in a subsidiary is considered an ownership interest in a majority-owned subsidiary that is not attributable to the parent. We include noncontrolling interests as a component of total equity in the condensed consolidated balance sheets and the net income attributable to noncontrolling interests are presented as an adjustment from net loss used to arrive at net loss attributable to 3D Systems Corporation in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. As of March 31, 2020, there were no longer any non-controlling interests held by us. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) applicable to interim reports. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and notes required by GAAP for complete financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 (“2019 Form 10-K”). Our annual reporting period is the calendar year.
Recently Adopted Accounting Standards and Accounting Standards Issued But Not Yet Adopted	Recently Adopted Accounting Standards In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-13, “Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments” (“ASU 2016-13”), as revised in July 2018, which provides guidance regarding the measurement of credit losses for financial assets and certain other instruments that are not accounted for at fair value through net income, including trade and other receivables, debt securities, net investment in sales type and direct financing leases, and off-balance sheet credit exposures. The new guidance requires companies to replace the current incurred loss impairment methodology with a methodology that measures all expected credit losses for financial assets based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. The Company adopted this guidance during the first quarter of 2020. The implementation did not have a material effect on our financial position or results of operations. In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, “Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment” (“ASU 2017-04”), which eliminates the performance of Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. In performing its annual or interim impairment testing, an entity will instead compare the fair value of the reporting unit with its carrying amount and recognize any impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value. Additionally, an entity should consider income tax effects from any tax-deductible goodwill on the carrying amount of the reporting unit when measuring the goodwill impairment loss. The Company adopted this guidance during the first quarter of 2020. The implementation did not have a material effect on our financial position or results of operations. We followed this guidance during our goodwill impairment analysis this quarter. Accounting Standards Issued But Not Yet Adopted In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, “Income Taxes (Topic 740) - Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes,” which simplifies the accounting for income taxes by eliminating some exceptions to the general approach in Accounting Standards Codification 740, Income Taxes. It also clarifies certain aspects of the existing guidance to promote more consistent application. This standard is effective for calendar-year public business entities in 2021 and interim periods within that year, and early adoption is permitted. We are currently not planning to early adopt and are in the process of evaluating the impact the new standard will have on our consolidated financial statements. No other new accounting pronouncements, issued or effective during 2020, have had or are expected to have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements.
Revenue Recognition	Revenue Recognition Revenue is recognized when control of the promised products or services is transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to receive in exchange for those products or services. We enter into contracts that can include various combinations of products and services, which are generally capable of being distinct and accounted for as separate performance obligations. Many of our contracts with customers include multiple performance obligations. For such arrangements, we allocate revenue to each performance obligation based on its relative stand-alone selling price (“SSP”). Revenue is recognized net of allowances for returns and any taxes collected from customers, which are subsequently remitted to governmental authorities. The amount of consideration received and revenue recognized may vary based on changes in marketing incentive programs offered to our customers. Our marketing incentive programs take many forms, including volume discounts, trade-in allowances, rebates and other discounts. A majority of our revenue is recognized at the point in time when products are shipped or services are delivered to customers. Please see below for further discussion. Hardware and Materials Revenue from hardware and material sales is recognized when control has transferred to the customer, which typically occurs when the goods have been shipped to the customer, risk of loss has transferred to the customer and we have a present right to payment. In limited circumstances, when printer or other hardware sales include substantive customer acceptance provisions, revenue is recognized either when customer acceptance has been obtained, customer acceptance provisions have lapsed, or we have objective evidence that the criteria specified in the customer acceptance provisions have been satisfied. Printers and certain other products include a warranty under which we provide maintenance for periods up to one year. For these initial product warranties, estimated costs are accrued at the time of the sale of the product. These cost estimates are established using historical information based on the nature, frequency and average cost of claims for each type of printer or other product as well as assumptions about future activity and events. Revisions to expense accruals are made as necessary based on changes in these historical and future factors. Software We also market and sell software tools that enable our customers to capture and customize content using our printers, design optimization and simulation software, and reverse engineering and inspection software. Software does not require significant modification or customization and the license provides the customer with a right to use the software as it exists when made available. Revenue from these software licenses is recognized either upon delivery of the product or of a key code which allows the customer to download the software. Customers may purchase post-sale support. Generally, the first year is included but subsequent years are optional. This optional support is considered a separate obligation from the software and is deferred at the time of sale and subsequently recognized ratably over future periods. Services We offer training, installation and non-contract maintenance services for our products. Additionally, we offer maintenance contracts customers can purchase at their option. For maintenance contracts, revenue is deferred at the time of sale based on the stand-alone selling prices of these services and costs are expensed as incurred. Deferred revenue is recognized ratably over the term of the maintenance period on a straight-line basis. Revenue from training, installation and non-contract maintenance services is recognized at the time of performance of the service. On demand manufacturing and healthcare service sales are included within services revenue and revenue is recognized upon shipment or delivery of the parts or performance of the service, based on the terms of the arrangement. Terms of Sale Shipping and handling activities are treated as fulfillment costs rather than as an additional promised service. We accrue the costs of shipping and handling when the related revenue is recognized. Our incurred costs associated with shipping and handling are included in product cost of sales. Credit is extended, and creditworthiness is determined, based on an evaluation of each customer’s financial condition. New customers are generally required to complete a credit application and provide references and bank information to facilitate an analysis of creditworthiness. Customers with a favorable profile may receive credit terms that differ from our general credit terms. Creditworthiness is considered, among other things, in evaluating our relationship with customers with past due balances. Our terms of sale generally provide payment terms that are customary in the countries where we transact business. To reduce credit risk in connection with certain sales, we may, depending upon the circumstances, require significant deposits or payment in full prior to shipment. For maintenance services, we either bill customers on a time-and-materials basis or sell maintenance contracts that provide for payment in advance on either an annual or other periodic basis. Significant Judgments Our contracts with customers often include promises to transfer multiple products and services to a customer. For such arrangements, we allocate revenues to each performance obligation based on its relative SSP. Judgment is required to determine the SSP for each distinct performance obligation in a contract. For the majority of items, we estimate SSP using historical transaction data. We use a range of amounts to estimate SSP when we sell each of the products and services separately and need to determine whether there is a discount to be allocated based on the relative SSP of the various products and services. In instances where SSP is not directly observable, such as when the product or service is not sold separately, we determine the SSP using information that may include market conditions and other observable inputs. In some circumstances, we have more than one SSP for individual products and services due to the stratification of those products and services by customers, geographic region or other factors. In these instances, we may use information such as the size of the customer and geographic region in determining the SSP. The determination of SSP is an ongoing process and information is reviewed regularly in order to ensure SSP reflects the most current information or trends. The nature of our marketing incentives may lead to consideration that is variable. Judgment is exercised at contract inception to determine the most likely outcome of the contract and resulting transaction price. Ongoing assessments are performed to determine if updates are needed to the original estimates. Contract Balances The timing of revenue recognition, billings and cash collections results in billed accounts receivable, unbilled receivables (contract assets), and customer deposits and deferred revenues (contract liabilities) on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. Timing of revenue recognition may differ from the timing of invoicing to customers. We record a receivable when revenue is recognized at the time of invoicing, or unbilled receivables when revenue is recognized prior to invoicing. For most of our contracts, customers are invoiced when products are shipped or when services are performed resulting in billed accounts receivables for the remainder of the owed contract price. Unbilled receivables generally result from items being shipped where the customer has not been charged, but for which revenue had been recognized. In our on demand manufacturing business, customers may be required to pay in full before work begins on their orders, resulting in customer deposits. We typically bill in advance for installation, training and maintenance contracts as well as extended warranties, resulting in deferred revenue. Changes in contract asset and liability balances were not materially impacted by any other factors for the period ended September 30, 2020. Through September 30, 2020, we recognized revenue of $27,041 related to our contract liabilities at December 31, 2019. Practical Expedients and Exemptions We generally expense sales commissions when incurred because the amortization period would be one year or less. These costs are recorded within selling, general and administrative expenses.

Basis of Presentation (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of 3D Systems Corporation and all majority-owned subsidiaries and entities in which a controlling interest is maintained (“3D Systems” or the “Company” or “we” or “us”). All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. A non-controlling interest in a subsidiary is considered an ownership interest in a majority-owned subsidiary that is not attributable to the parent. We include noncontrolling interests as a component of total equity in the condensed consolidated balance sheets and the net income attributable to noncontrolling interests are presented as an adjustment from net loss used to arrive at net loss attributable to 3D Systems Corporation in the condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. As of March 31, 2020, there were no longer any non-controlling interests held by us.

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) applicable to interim reports. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and notes required by GAAP for complete financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 (“2019 Form 10-K”). Our annual reporting period is the calendar year.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards and Accounting Standards Issued But Not Yet Adopted

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-13, “Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments” (“ASU 2016-13”), as revised in July 2018, which provides guidance regarding the measurement of credit losses for financial assets and certain other instruments that are not accounted for at fair value through net income, including trade and other receivables, debt securities, net investment in sales type and direct financing leases, and off-balance sheet credit exposures. The new guidance requires companies to replace the current incurred loss impairment methodology with a methodology that measures all expected credit losses for financial assets based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. The Company adopted this guidance during the first quarter of 2020. The implementation did not have a material effect on our financial position or results of operations.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, “Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment” (“ASU 2017-04”), which eliminates the performance of Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. In performing its annual or interim impairment testing, an entity will instead compare the fair value of the reporting unit with its carrying amount and recognize any impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value. Additionally, an entity should consider income tax effects from any tax-deductible goodwill on the carrying amount of the reporting unit when measuring the goodwill impairment loss. The Company adopted this guidance during the first quarter of 2020. The implementation did not have a material effect on our financial position or results of operations. We followed this guidance during our goodwill impairment analysis this quarter.

Accounting Standards Issued But Not Yet Adopted

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, “Income Taxes (Topic 740) - Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes,” which simplifies the accounting for income taxes by eliminating some exceptions to the general approach in Accounting Standards Codification 740, Income Taxes. It also clarifies certain aspects of the existing guidance to promote more consistent application. This standard is effective for calendar-year public business entities in 2021 and interim periods within that year, and early adoption is permitted. We are currently not planning to early adopt and are in the process of evaluating the impact the new standard will have on our consolidated financial statements.

No other new accounting pronouncements, issued or effective during 2020, have had or are expected to have a significant impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue is recognized when control of the promised products or services is transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to receive in exchange for those products or services. We enter into contracts that can include various combinations of products and services, which are generally capable of being distinct and accounted for as separate performance obligations. Many of our contracts with customers include multiple performance obligations. For such arrangements, we allocate revenue to each performance obligation based on its relative stand-alone selling price (“SSP”). Revenue is recognized net of allowances for returns and any taxes collected from customers, which are subsequently remitted to governmental authorities. The amount of consideration received and revenue recognized may vary based on changes in marketing incentive programs offered to our customers. Our marketing incentive programs take many forms, including volume discounts, trade-in allowances, rebates and other discounts.

A majority of our revenue is recognized at the point in time when products are shipped or services are delivered to customers. Please see below for further discussion.

Hardware and Materials

Revenue from hardware and material sales is recognized when control has transferred to the customer, which typically occurs when the goods have been shipped to the customer, risk of loss has transferred to the customer and we have a present right to payment. In limited circumstances, when printer or other hardware sales include substantive customer acceptance provisions, revenue is recognized either when customer acceptance has been obtained, customer acceptance provisions have lapsed, or we have objective evidence that the criteria specified in the customer acceptance provisions have been satisfied.

Printers and certain other products include a warranty under which we provide maintenance for periods up to one year. For these initial product warranties, estimated costs are accrued at the time of the sale of the product. These cost estimates are established using historical information based on the nature, frequency and average cost of claims for each type of printer or other product as well as assumptions about future activity and events. Revisions to expense accruals are made as necessary based on changes in these historical and future factors.

Software

We also market and sell software tools that enable our customers to capture and customize content using our printers, design optimization and simulation software, and reverse engineering and inspection software. Software does not require significant modification or customization and the license provides the customer with a right to use the software as it exists when made available. Revenue from these software licenses is recognized either upon delivery of the product or of a key code which allows the customer to download the software. Customers may purchase post-sale support. Generally, the first year is included but subsequent years are optional. This optional support is considered a separate obligation from the software and is deferred at the time of sale and subsequently recognized ratably over future periods.

Services

We offer training, installation and non-contract maintenance services for our products. Additionally, we offer maintenance contracts customers can purchase at their option. For maintenance contracts, revenue is deferred at the time of sale based on the stand-alone selling prices of these services and costs are expensed as incurred. Deferred revenue is recognized ratably over the term of the maintenance period on a straight-line basis. Revenue from training, installation and non-contract maintenance services is recognized at the time of performance of the service.

On demand manufacturing and healthcare service sales are included within services revenue and revenue is recognized upon shipment or delivery of the parts or performance of the service, based on the terms of the arrangement.

Terms of Sale

Shipping and handling activities are treated as fulfillment costs rather than as an additional promised service. We accrue the costs of shipping and handling when the related revenue is recognized. Our incurred costs associated with shipping and handling are included in product cost of sales.

Credit is extended, and creditworthiness is determined, based on an evaluation of each customer’s financial condition. New customers are generally required to complete a credit application and provide references and bank information to facilitate an analysis of creditworthiness. Customers with a favorable profile may receive credit terms that differ from our general credit terms. Creditworthiness is considered, among other things, in evaluating our relationship with customers with past due balances.

Our terms of sale generally provide payment terms that are customary in the countries where we transact business. To reduce credit risk in connection with certain sales, we may, depending upon the circumstances, require significant deposits or payment in full prior to shipment. For maintenance services, we either bill customers on a time-and-materials basis or sell maintenance contracts that provide for payment in advance on either an annual or other periodic basis.

Significant Judgments

Our contracts with customers often include promises to transfer multiple products and services to a customer. For such arrangements, we allocate revenues to each performance obligation based on its relative SSP.

Judgment is required to determine the SSP for each distinct performance obligation in a contract. For the majority of items, we estimate SSP using historical transaction data. We use a range of amounts to estimate SSP when we sell each of the products and services separately and need to determine whether there is a discount to be allocated based on the relative SSP of the various products and services. In instances where SSP is not directly observable, such as when the product or service is not sold separately, we determine the SSP using information that may include market conditions and other observable inputs.

In some circumstances, we have more than one SSP for individual products and services due to the stratification of those products and services by customers, geographic region or other factors. In these instances, we may use information such as the size of the customer and geographic region in determining the SSP.

The determination of SSP is an ongoing process and information is reviewed regularly in order to ensure SSP reflects the most current information or trends.

The nature of our marketing incentives may lead to consideration that is variable. Judgment is exercised at contract inception to determine the most likely outcome of the contract and resulting transaction price. Ongoing assessments are performed to determine if updates are needed to the original estimates.

Contract Balances

The timing of revenue recognition, billings and cash collections results in billed accounts receivable, unbilled receivables (contract assets), and customer deposits and deferred revenues (contract liabilities) on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. Timing of revenue recognition may differ from the timing of invoicing to customers. We record a receivable when revenue is recognized at the time of invoicing, or unbilled receivables when revenue is recognized prior to invoicing. For most of our contracts, customers are invoiced when products are shipped or when services are performed resulting in billed accounts receivables for the remainder of the owed contract price. Unbilled receivables generally result from items being shipped where the customer has not been charged, but for which revenue had been recognized. In our on demand manufacturing business, customers may be required to pay in full before work begins on their orders, resulting in customer deposits. We typically bill in advance for installation, training and maintenance contracts as well as extended warranties, resulting in deferred revenue. Changes in contract asset and liability balances were not materially impacted by any other factors for the period ended September 30, 2020.

Through September 30, 2020, we recognized revenue of $27,041 related to our contract liabilities at December 31, 2019.

Practical Expedients and Exemptions

We generally expense sales commissions when incurred because the amortization period would be one year or less. These costs are recorded within selling, general and administrative expenses.