Business Acquisitions - Unaudited Pro Forma Results (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information [Abstract]
Sales, net	$ 338,268	$ 175,127	$ 134,810	$ 140,743	$ 154,161	$ 173,082	$ 196,032	$ 195,617	$ 788,948	$ 718,892	$ 671,012
Total sales, Pro Forma									1,202,790	1,350,037
Net income attributable to Advanced Energy Industries, Inc, As Reported	$ 10,264	$ 7,621	$ 31,686	$ 15,370	$ 19,406	$ 34,779	$ 46,361	$ 46,479	64,941	147,025	$ 137,861
Net income attributable to Advanced Energy Industries, Inc., Pro Forma									$ 83,104	$ 158,422
Earnings Per Share, Pro Forma [Abstract]
Basic earnings per share, As Reported	$ 0.27	$ 0.20	$ 0.83	$ 0.40	$ 0.51	$ 0.89	$ 1.18	$ 1.17	$ 1.70	$ 3.76	$ 3.47
Basic earnings per share, Pro Forma									2.17	4.05
Diluted earnings per share	$ 0.27	$ 0.20	$ 0.82	$ 0.40	$ 0.50	$ 0.89	$ 1.17	$ 1.16	1.69	3.74	$ 3.43
Diluted earnings per share, Pro Forma									$ 2.16	$ 4.03
Net income	$ 10,269	$ 7,631	$ 31,697	$ 15,378	$ 19,410	$ 34,786	$ 46,405	$ 46,510	$ 64,975	$ 147,111	$ 137,861
Artesyn's Embedded Power Business [Member]
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information [Abstract]
Sales, net									220,300
Earnings Per Share, Pro Forma [Abstract]
Net income									$ 7,100