Business Acquisitions - Unaudited Pro Forma Results (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended						9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information [Abstract]
Total sales, As Reported	$ 175,127			$ 173,082			$ 450,680	$ 564,731
Total sales, Pro Forma	292,669			333,050			863,190	1,037,113
Net income attributable to Advanced Energy Industries, Inc, As Reported	7,621			34,779			54,677	127,619
Net income attributable to Advanced Energy Industries, Inc., Pro Forma	11,095			36,887			58,615	135,994
Cost of goods sold	101,636			87,543			247,323	274,312
Selling, general and administrative	$ 36,401			$ 25,386			$ 93,027	$ 78,792
Earnings Per Share, Pro Forma [Abstract]
Basic earnings per share, As Reported	$ 0.20			$ 0.89			$ 1.43	$ 3.25
Basic earnings per share, Pro Forma	0.29			0.95			1.53	3.46
Diluted earnings per share, As Reported	0.20			0.89			1.42	3.23
Diluted earnings per share, Pro Forma	$ 0.29			$ 0.94			$ 1.52	$ 3.44
Net income	$ 7,631	$ 31,697	$ 15,378	$ 34,786	$ 46,405	$ 46,510	$ 54,706	$ 127,701
LumaSense Technology Holdings Inc. [Member]
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information [Abstract]
Total sales, As Reported	12,000						35,800
Earnings Per Share, Pro Forma [Abstract]
Net income	1,000						3,600
Artesyn's Embedded Power Business [Member]
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information [Abstract]
Total sales, As Reported	40,900						40,900
Earnings Per Share, Pro Forma [Abstract]
Net income	1,200						1,200
Artesyn's Embedded Power Business [Member] | Acquisition-related Costs [Member]
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information [Abstract]
Cost of goods sold	1,500						1,500
Selling, general and administrative	$ 6,400						$ 7,900