<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<FilingSummary xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema">
  <Version>2.4.0.6</Version>
  <ProcessingTime />
  <ReportFormat>Html</ReportFormat>
  <ContextCount>52</ContextCount>
  <ElementCount>136</ElementCount>
  <EntityCount>1</EntityCount>
  <FootnotesReported>false</FootnotesReported>
  <SegmentCount>8</SegmentCount>
  <ScenarioCount>0</ScenarioCount>
  <TuplesReported>false</TuplesReported>
  <UnitCount>3</UnitCount>
  <MyReports>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R1.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>001 - Document - Document and Entity Information</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.towerjazz.com/role/DocumentAndEntityInformation</Role>
      <ShortName>Document and Entity Information</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>true</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R2.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>002 - Statement - CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.towerjazz.com/role/ConsolidatedBalanceSheets</Role>
      <ShortName>CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R3.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>003 - Statement - CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.towerjazz.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsOfOperations</Role>
      <ShortName>CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R4.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>004 - Statement - STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.towerjazz.com/role/StatementsOfChangesInShareholdersEquity</Role>
      <ShortName>STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R5.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>005 - Statement - CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.towerjazz.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsOfCashFlows</Role>
      <ShortName>CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R6.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>101 - Disclosure - DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND GENERAL</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.towerjazz.com/role/DescriptionOfBusinessAndGeneral</Role>
      <ShortName>DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND GENERAL</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R7.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>102 - Disclosure - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.towerjazz.com/role/SummaryOfSignificantAccountingPolicies</Role>
      <ShortName>SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R8.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1021 - Disclosure - ACQUISITION OF NISHIWAKI FAB IN JAPAN</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.towerjazz.com/role/AcquisitionOfNishiwakiFabInJapan</Role>
      <ShortName>ACQUISITION OF NISHIWAKI FAB IN JAPAN</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R9.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>103 - Disclosure - OTHER RECEIVABLES</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.towerjazz.com/role/OtherReceivables</Role>
      <ShortName>OTHER RECEIVABLES</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R10.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>104 - Disclosure - INVENTORIES</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.towerjazz.com/role/Inventories</Role>
      <ShortName>INVENTORIES</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R11.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>105 - Disclosure - LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.towerjazz.com/role/LongTermInvestments</Role>
      <ShortName>LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R12.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>106 - Disclosure - PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.towerjazz.com/role/PropertyAndEquipmentNet</Role>
      <ShortName>PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R13.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>107 - Disclosure - INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.towerjazz.com/role/IntangibleAssetsNet</Role>
      <ShortName>INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R14.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>108 - Disclosure - OTHER ASSETS, NET</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.towerjazz.com/role/OtherAssetsNet</Role>
      <ShortName>OTHER ASSETS, NET</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R15.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>109 - Disclosure - ASSET-BASED REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.towerjazz.com/role/AssetBasedRevolvingCreditFacility</Role>
      <ShortName>ASSET-BASED REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R16.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>110 - Disclosure - OTHER CURRENT LIABILITIES</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.towerjazz.com/role/OtherCurrentLiabilities</Role>
      <ShortName>OTHER CURRENT LIABILITIES</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R17.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>111 - Disclosure - LONG-TERM LOANS FROM BANKS</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.towerjazz.com/role/LongTermLoansFromBanks</Role>
      <ShortName>LONG-TERM LOANS FROM BANKS</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R18.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>112 - Disclosure - DEBENTURES</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.towerjazz.com/role/Debentures</Role>
      <ShortName>DEBENTURES</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R19.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>113 - Disclosure - FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.towerjazz.com/role/FinancialInstrumentsAndFairValueMeasurements</Role>
      <ShortName>FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R20.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>114 - Disclosure - EMPLOYEE RELATED LIABILITIES</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.towerjazz.com/role/EmployeeRelatedLiabilities</Role>
      <ShortName>EMPLOYEE RELATED LIABILITIES</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R21.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>115 - Disclosure - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.towerjazz.com/role/CommitmentsAndContingencies</Role>
      <ShortName>COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R22.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>116 - Disclosure - SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.towerjazz.com/role/ShareholdersEquity</Role>
      <ShortName>SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R23.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>117 - Disclosure - INFORMATION ON GEOGRAPHIC AREAS AND MAJOR CUSTOMERS</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.towerjazz.com/role/InformationOnGeographicAreasAndMajorCustomers</Role>
      <ShortName>INFORMATION ON GEOGRAPHIC AREAS AND MAJOR CUSTOMERS</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R24.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>118 - Disclosure - FINANCING EXPENSES, NET</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.towerjazz.com/role/FinancingExpensesNet</Role>
      <ShortName>FINANCING EXPENSES, NET</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R25.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>119 - Disclosure - INCOME TAXES</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.towerjazz.com/role/IncomeTaxes</Role>
      <ShortName>INCOME TAXES</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R26.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>120 - Disclosure - RELATED PARTIES BALANCES AND TRANSACTIONS</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.towerjazz.com/role/RelatedPartiesBalancesAndTransactions</Role>
      <ShortName>RELATED PARTIES BALANCES AND TRANSACTIONS</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <LongName>All Reports</LongName>
      <ReportType>Book</ReportType>
      <ShortName>All Reports</ShortName>
    </Report>
  </MyReports>
  <Logs>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 002 - Statement - CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS</Log>
    <Log type="Info">	Process Flow-Through: Removing column 'Dec. 31, 2009'</Log>
    <Log type="Info">	Process Flow-Through: Removing column 'Dec. 31, 2008'</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 003 - Statement - CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 005 - Statement - CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS</Log>
  </Logs>
  <InputFiles>
    <File>tsem-20111231.xml</File>
    <File>tsem-20111231.xsd</File>
    <File>tsem-20111231_cal.xml</File>
    <File>tsem-20111231_def.xml</File>
    <File>tsem-20111231_lab.xml</File>
    <File>tsem-20111231_pre.xml</File>
  </InputFiles>
  <SupplementalFiles />
  <BaseTaxonomies />
  <HasPresentationLinkbase>true</HasPresentationLinkbase>
  <HasCalculationLinkbase>true</HasCalculationLinkbase>
</FilingSummary>
