Leases Supplemental Balance Sheet Information Related to Leases (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Operating leases:
Operating lease right-of-use asset	$ 26,107	$ 18,418
Current operating lease liability	5,557	6,349
Operating lease liability - less current portion	21,985	13,272
Total operating lease liability	27,542	19,621
Finance leases:
Property and equipment, at cost	1,813	1,870
Accumulated depreciation	(1,415)	(1,150)
Property and equipment, net	398	720
Current finance lease liability	278	325
Finance lease liability - less current portion	146	426
Total finance lease liability	$ 424	$ 751
Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term (in years):
Operating leases	6 years 6 months 18 days	4 years 5 months 23 days
Finance leases	1 year 11 months 4 days	2 years 5 months 23 days
Weighted Average Discount Rate:
Operating leases	5.66%	5.10%
Finance leases	5.07%	5.09%
Finance Lease, Right-of-Use Asset, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List]	us-gaap:PropertyPlantAndEquipmentAndFinanceLeaseRightOfUseAssetAfterAccumulatedDepreciationAndAmortization	us-gaap:PropertyPlantAndEquipmentAndFinanceLeaseRightOfUseAssetAfterAccumulatedDepreciationAndAmortization
Operating Lease, Liability, Current, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List]	faro:OperatingandFinanceLeaseLiabilityCurrent	faro:OperatingandFinanceLeaseLiabilityCurrent
Operating Lease, Liability, Noncurrent, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List]	faro:OperatingandFinanceLeaseLiabilityNoncurrent	faro:OperatingandFinanceLeaseLiabilityNoncurrent
Operating Lease, Liability, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List]	us-gaap:Liabilities	us-gaap:Liabilities