$CGNX
COGNEX CORP Stock $cgnx

$cgnx Overview Financials Valuation SEC Filings Company Website

2021 Q1 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000085120521000005 Filed on February 11, 2021

Income Statement

Concept	2021 Q1	2020 Q4	2020 Q3
Revenue		$223.6M	$251.1M
YoY Change		31.72%	36.96%
Cost Of Revenue		$55.20M	$59.74M
YoY Change		22.94%	25.42%
Gross Profit		$168.5M	$191.3M
YoY Change		34.87%	41.0%
Gross Profit Margin		75.33%	76.21%
Selling, General & Admin		$74.10M	$64.21M
YoY Change		-0.27%	-0.43%
% of Gross Profit		43.99%	33.56%
Research & Development		$34.40M	$30.24M
YoY Change		4.24%	7.56%
% of Gross Profit		20.42%	15.8%
Depreciation & Amortization		$6.600M	$6.100M
YoY Change		-5.71%	3.39%
% of Gross Profit		3.92%	3.19%
Operating Expenses		$108.4M	$94.45M
YoY Change		1.03%	1.99%
Operating Profit		$59.09M	$96.64M
YoY Change		235.58%	124.25%
Interest Expense		$6.000M	$4.800M
YoY Change		13.21%	26.32%
% of Operating Profit		10.15%	4.97%
Other Income/Expense, Net		-$200.0K	-$173.0K
YoY Change			-137.94%
Pretax Income		$64.90M	$101.3M
YoY Change		183.41%	113.88%
Income Tax		-$4.400M	$13.80M
% Of Pretax Income		-6.78%	13.62%
Net Earnings		$69.35M	$87.51M
YoY Change		-13.67%	109.92%
Net Earnings / Revenue		31.01%	34.85%
Basic Earnings Per Share		$0.40	$0.50
Diluted Earnings Per Share		$0.39	$0.49
COMMON SHARES
Basic Shares Outstanding	176.0M shares		173.9M shares
Diluted Shares Outstanding			177.1M shares

Balance Sheet

Concept	2020 Q4	2020 Q3
SHORT-TERM ASSETS
Cash & Short-Term Investments	$372.3M	$393.7M
YoY Change	-9.61%	-4.85%
Cash & Equivalents	$269.1M	$298.4M
Short-Term Investments	$103.2M	$95.37M
Other Short-Term Assets	$35.70M	$35.50M
YoY Change	32.71%	26.33%
Inventory	$60.83M	$53.86M
Prepaid Expenses
Receivables	$125.7M	$127.8M
Other Receivables	$1.600M	$2.000M
Total Short-Term Assets	$601.7M	$628.1M
YoY Change	-0.91%	0.38%
LONG-TERM ASSETS
Property, Plant & Equipment	$79.17M	$81.23M
YoY Change	-11.48%	-8.15%
Goodwill	$244.1M	$243.1M
YoY Change	0.26%	114.76%
Intangibles	$15.56M
YoY Change	-60.61%
Long-Term Investments	$395.1M	$619.3M
YoY Change	-8.86%	22.73%
Other Assets	$7.794M	$7.684M
YoY Change	33.62%	44.44%
Total Long-Term Assets	$1.199B	$1.432B
YoY Change	-6.23%	87.32%
TOTAL ASSETS
Total Short-Term Assets	$601.7M	$628.1M
Total Long-Term Assets	$1.199B	$1.432B
Total Assets	$1.801B	$2.061B
YoY Change	-4.52%	48.19%
SHORT-TERM LIABILITIES
YoY Change
Accounts Payable	$16.27M	$21.46M
YoY Change	-8.93%	68.13%
Accrued Expenses	$77.26M	$68.35M
YoY Change	48.02%	40.75%
Deferred Revenue	$21.27M	$33.72M
YoY Change	47.41%
Short-Term Debt	$0.00	$0.00
YoY Change
Long-Term Debt Due
YoY Change
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$132.3M	$139.4M
YoY Change	9.81%	71.64%
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
Long-Term Debt	$0.00	$0.00
YoY Change
Other Long-Term Liabilities	$9.959M	$8.292M
YoY Change	314.61%	1014.52%
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$9.959M	$8.292M
YoY Change	314.61%	1014.52%
TOTAL LIABILITIES
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$132.3M	$139.4M
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$9.959M	$8.292M
Total Liabilities	$538.5M	$554.7M
YoY Change	1.56%	266.77%
SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY
Retained Earnings	$487.9M	$780.5M
YoY Change	-35.23%	14.38%
Common Stock	$807.7M	$762.8M
YoY Change	26.33%	28.33%
Preferred Stock
YoY Change
Treasury Stock (at cost)
YoY Change
Treasury Stock Shares
Shareholders Equity	$1.262B	$1.506B
YoY Change
Total Liabilities & Shareholders Equity	$1.801B	$2.061B
YoY Change	-4.52%	48.19%

Cashflow Statement

Concept	2020 Q4	2020 Q3
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net Income	$69.35M	$87.51M
YoY Change	-13.67%	109.92%
Depreciation, Depletion And Amortization	$6.600M	$6.100M
YoY Change	-5.71%	3.39%
Cash From Operating Activities	$82.90M	$80.50M
YoY Change	22.45%	23.09%
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital Expenditures	-$3.500M	-$2.800M
YoY Change	-57.32%	-37.78%
Acquisitions
YoY Change
Other Investing Activities	$216.9M	-$104.4M
YoY Change	-734.21%	340.51%
Cash From Investing Activities	$213.4M	-$107.2M
YoY Change	-604.49%	278.8%
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Cash Dividend Paid	$351.4M
YoY Change
Common Stock Issuance & Retirement, Net
YoY Change
Debt Paid & Issued, Net
YoY Change
Cash From Financing Activities	-327.7M	33.60M
YoY Change	-1500.43%	-1150.0%
NET CHANGE
Cash From Operating Activities	82.90M	80.50M
Cash From Investing Activities	213.4M	-107.2M
Cash From Financing Activities	-327.7M	33.60M
Net Change In Cash	-31.40M	6.900M
YoY Change	-164.34%	-79.65%
FREE CASH FLOW
Cash From Operating Activities	$82.90M	$80.50M
Capital Expenditures	-$3.500M	-$2.800M
Free Cash Flow	$86.40M	$83.30M
YoY Change	13.83%	19.17%

Facts In Submission

Frame	Concept Type	Concept / XBRL Key	Value	Unit
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CY2020	dei	Document Fiscal Period Focus DocumentFiscalPeriodFocus	FY
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CY2020	dei	Entity File Number EntityFileNumber	001-34218
CY2020	dei	Entity Registrant Name EntityRegistrantName	COGNEX CORP
CY2020	dei	Entity Address Address Line1 EntityAddressAddressLine1	One Vision Drive
CY2020	dei	Entity Address City Or Town EntityAddressCityOrTown	Natick
CY2020	dei	Entity Address State Or Province EntityAddressStateOrProvince	MA
CY2020	dei	Entity Incorporation State Country Code EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode	MA
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CY2020	dei	Trading Symbol TradingSymbol	CGNX
CY2020	dei	Security Exchange Name SecurityExchangeName	NASDAQ
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CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Net Current AccountsReceivableNetCurrent	103447000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Unbilled Receivables Current UnbilledReceivablesCurrent	5632000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Unbilled Receivables Current UnbilledReceivablesCurrent	4782000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Net InventoryNet	60830000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Net InventoryNet	60261000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Prepaid Expense And Other Assets Current PrepaidExpenseAndOtherAssetsCurrent	37220000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Prepaid Expense And Other Assets Current PrepaidExpenseAndOtherAssetsCurrent	26840000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Assets Current AssetsCurrent	601691000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Assets Current AssetsCurrent	607231000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Investments LongTermInvestments	395125000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Amortization Of Intangible Assets AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	4364000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	89443000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Right Of Use Asset OperatingLeaseRightOfUseAsset	22582000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Right Of Use Asset OperatingLeaseRightOfUseAsset	17522000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	244078000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	243445000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Intangible Assets Net Excluding Goodwill IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill	15555000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Intangible Assets Net Excluding Goodwill IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill	39490000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Assets Net DeferredIncomeTaxAssetsNet	434704000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Assets Net DeferredIncomeTaxAssetsNet	449519000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Noncurrent OtherAssetsNoncurrent	7794000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Noncurrent OtherAssetsNoncurrent	5833000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Assets Assets	1800702000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Assets Assets	1885935000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Payable Current AccountsPayableCurrent	16270000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Payable Current AccountsPayableCurrent	17866000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Liabilities Current AccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	77264000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Liabilities Current AccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	52199000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Income Taxes Current AccruedIncomeTaxesCurrent	9379000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Income Taxes Current AccruedIncomeTaxesCurrent	30333000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Liability Current ContractWithCustomerLiabilityCurrent	21274000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Liability Current ContractWithCustomerLiabilityCurrent	14432000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Current OperatingLeaseLiabilityCurrent	8110000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Current OperatingLeaseLiabilityCurrent	5647000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Current LiabilitiesCurrent	132297000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Current LiabilitiesCurrent	120477000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Noncurrent OperatingLeaseLiabilityNoncurrent	18120000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Noncurrent OperatingLeaseLiabilityNoncurrent	12326000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Liabilities Net DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilitiesNet	314952000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Liabilities Net DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilitiesNet	332344000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Liability For Uncertain Tax Positions Noncurrent LiabilityForUncertainTaxPositionsNoncurrent	14257000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Liability For Uncertain Tax Positions Noncurrent LiabilityForUncertainTaxPositionsNoncurrent	11563000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Income Taxes Noncurrent AccruedIncomeTaxesNoncurrent	48915000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Income Taxes Noncurrent AccruedIncomeTaxesNoncurrent	51113000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Noncurrent OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent	9959000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Noncurrent OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent	2402000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Liabilities	538500000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Liabilities	530225000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Commitments And Contingencies CommitmentsAndContingencies		USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Commitments And Contingencies CommitmentsAndContingencies		USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Value Outstanding PreferredStockValueOutstanding	0	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Value Outstanding PreferredStockValueOutstanding	0	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Value Outstanding CommonStockValueOutstanding	352000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Value Outstanding CommonStockValueOutstanding	345000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Additional Paid In Capital Common Stock AdditionalPaidInCapitalCommonStock	807739000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Additional Paid In Capital Common Stock AdditionalPaidInCapitalCommonStock	639372000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Retained Earnings Accumulated Deficit RetainedEarningsAccumulatedDeficit	487912000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Retained Earnings Accumulated Deficit RetainedEarningsAccumulatedDeficit	753268000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	-33801000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	-37275000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	1262202000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	1355710000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities And Stockholders Equity LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity	1800702000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities And Stockholders Equity LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity	1885935000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	176186000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	203865000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	219267000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Stock Option Plan Expense StockOptionPlanExpense	42661000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Stock Option Plan Expense StockOptionPlanExpense	45589000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Stock Option Plan Expense StockOptionPlanExpense	41090000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Depreciation Depreciation	22139000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Depreciation Depreciation	21527000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Depreciation Depreciation	18473000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Property Plant Equipment GainLossOnSaleOfPropertyPlantEquipment	-1817000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Property Plant Equipment GainLossOnSaleOfPropertyPlantEquipment	-324000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Property Plant Equipment GainLossOnSaleOfPropertyPlantEquipment	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Amortization Of Intangible Assets AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	3373000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Amortization Of Intangible Assets AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	3076000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Impairment Of Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill	19571000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Impairment Of Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Impairment Of Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill	0	USD
CY2020	cgnx	Excess And Obsolete Inventory Charges ExcessAndObsoleteInventoryCharges	9908000	USD
CY2019	cgnx	Excess And Obsolete Inventory Charges ExcessAndObsoleteInventoryCharges	5296000	USD
CY2018	cgnx	Excess And Obsolete Inventory Charges ExcessAndObsoleteInventoryCharges	2985000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Operating Lease Impairment Loss OperatingLeaseImpairmentLoss	3427000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Operating Lease Impairment Loss OperatingLeaseImpairmentLoss	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Operating Lease Impairment Loss OperatingLeaseImpairmentLoss	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Accretion Amortization Of Discounts And Premiums Investments AccretionAmortizationOfDiscountsAndPremiumsInvestments	-1274000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Accretion Amortization Of Discounts And Premiums Investments AccretionAmortizationOfDiscountsAndPremiumsInvestments	618000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Accretion Amortization Of Discounts And Premiums Investments AccretionAmortizationOfDiscountsAndPremiumsInvestments	-108000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Investments GainLossOnSaleOfInvestments	4119000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Investments GainLossOnSaleOfInvestments	1452000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Investments GainLossOnSaleOfInvestments	501000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Business Combination Contingent Consideration Arrangements Change In Amount Of Contingent Consideration Liability1 BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationArrangementsChangeInAmountOfContingentConsiderationLiability1	-114000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Business Combination Contingent Consideration Arrangements Change In Amount Of Contingent Consideration Liability1 BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationArrangementsChangeInAmountOfContingentConsiderationLiability1	-1401000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Business Combination Contingent Consideration Arrangements Change In Amount Of Contingent Consideration Liability1 BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationArrangementsChangeInAmountOfContingentConsiderationLiability1	-3000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Deferred Income Taxes IncreaseDecreaseInDeferredIncomeTaxes	3353000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Deferred Income Taxes IncreaseDecreaseInDeferredIncomeTaxes	94866000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Deferred Income Taxes IncreaseDecreaseInDeferredIncomeTaxes	413000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	21285000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	-16807000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	1867000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Contract With Customer Asset IncreaseDecreaseInContractWithCustomerAsset	848000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Contract With Customer Asset IncreaseDecreaseInContractWithCustomerAsset	-3530000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Contract With Customer Asset IncreaseDecreaseInContractWithCustomerAsset	906000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Inventories IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	10319000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Inventories IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	-17841000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Inventories IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	19931000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Prepaid Deferred Expense And Other Assets IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidDeferredExpenseAndOtherAssets	9909000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Prepaid Deferred Expense And Other Assets IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidDeferredExpenseAndOtherAssets	-7405000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities	242400000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayable	-7247000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Prepaid Deferred Expense And Other Assets IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidDeferredExpenseAndOtherAssets	9750000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayable	-1688000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayable	1633000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accrued Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccruedLiabilities	24542000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accrued Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccruedLiabilities	-8938000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accrued Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccruedLiabilities	380000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accrued Income Taxes Payable IncreaseDecreaseInAccruedIncomeTaxesPayable	-22973000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accrued Income Taxes Payable IncreaseDecreaseInAccruedIncomeTaxesPayable	25266000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accrued Income Taxes Payable IncreaseDecreaseInAccruedIncomeTaxesPayable	-21903000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Contract With Customer Liability IncreaseDecreaseInContractWithCustomerLiability	6571000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Contract With Customer Liability IncreaseDecreaseInContractWithCustomerLiability	3875000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Contract With Customer Liability IncreaseDecreaseInContractWithCustomerLiability	1434000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Capital Net IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingCapitalNet	-4548000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Capital Net IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingCapitalNet	-4255000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Capital Net IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingCapitalNet	838000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities	253311000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities	223454000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Investments PaymentsToAcquireInvestments	922867000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Investments PaymentsToAcquireInvestments	1031642000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Investments PaymentsToAcquireInvestments	782032000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Maturity And Collections Of Investments ProceedsFromSaleMaturityAndCollectionsOfInvestments	1104605000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Maturity And Collections Of Investments ProceedsFromSaleMaturityAndCollectionsOfInvestments	1062962000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Maturity And Collections Of Investments ProceedsFromSaleMaturityAndCollectionsOfInvestments	812565000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Property Plant And Equipment PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment	13303000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Property Plant And Equipment PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment	21745000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Property Plant And Equipment PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment	37095000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Businesses Net Of Cash Acquired PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired	-1004000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Businesses Net Of Cash Acquired PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired	166911000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Businesses Net Of Cash Acquired PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired	4265000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	169439000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	-157336000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	-10827000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Shares Under Incentive And Share Based Compensation Plans Including Stock Options ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSharesUnderIncentiveAndShareBasedCompensationPlansIncludingStockOptions	125715000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Shares Under Incentive And Share Based Compensation Plans Including Stock Options ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSharesUnderIncentiveAndShareBasedCompensationPlansIncludingStockOptions	64581000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Shares Under Incentive And Share Based Compensation Plans Including Stock Options ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSharesUnderIncentiveAndShareBasedCompensationPlansIncludingStockOptions	26783000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock	51036000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock	61690000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock	203822000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments Of Dividends Common Stock PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock	390508000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments Of Dividends Common Stock PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock	35124000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments Of Dividends Common Stock PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock	31865000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Payment For Contingent Consideration Liability Financing Activities PaymentForContingentConsiderationLiabilityFinancingActivities	1039000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payment For Contingent Consideration Liability Financing Activities PaymentForContingentConsiderationLiabilityFinancingActivities	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payment For Contingent Consideration Liability Financing Activities PaymentForContingentConsiderationLiabilityFinancingActivities	1000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	-316868000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	-32233000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	-209904000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Effect Of Exchange Rate On Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	2671000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Effect Of Exchange Rate On Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	-523000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Effect Of Exchange Rate On Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	-1093000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease Including Exchange Rate Effect CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecreaseIncludingExchangeRateEffect	97642000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease Including Exchange Rate Effect CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecreaseIncludingExchangeRateEffect	63219000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease Including Exchange Rate Effect CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecreaseIncludingExchangeRateEffect	1630000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	171431000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	108212000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	106582000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	269073000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	171431000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	108212000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	1095673000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Stock Options Exercised StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueStockOptionsExercised	26783000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased During Period Value StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodValue	203822000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Sharebased Compensation Requisite Service Period Recognition Value AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue	41090000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Dividends Common Stock Cash DividendsCommonStockCash	31865000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	219267000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax	-1185000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Reclassification Adjustment From Aoci For Sale Of Securities Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIForSaleOfSecuritiesNetOfTax	501000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax	-4216000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	1135263000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Stock Options Exercised StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueStockOptionsExercised	64581000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased During Period Value StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodValue	61690000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Sharebased Compensation Requisite Service Period Recognition Value AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue	45589000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Dividends Common Stock Cash DividendsCommonStockCash	35124000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	203865000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax	5219000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Reclassification Adjustment From Aoci For Sale Of Securities Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIForSaleOfSecuritiesNetOfTax	1452000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax	-541000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	1355710000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Stock Options Exercised StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueStockOptionsExercised	125715000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased During Period Value StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodValue	51036000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Sharebased Compensation Requisite Service Period Recognition Value AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue	42661000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Dividends Common Stock Cash DividendsCommonStockCash	390508000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	176186000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Holding Gain Loss On Securities Arising During Period Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax	6478000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax	6478000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Reclassification Adjustment From Aoci For Sale Of Securities Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIForSaleOfSecuritiesNetOfTax	4119000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Reclassification Adjustment From Aoci For Sale Of Securities Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIForSaleOfSecuritiesNetOfTax	4119000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax	1115000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax	1115000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	1262202000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Use Of Estimates UseOfEstimates	<div style="margin-bottom:5pt;margin-top:9pt;text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements</span></div><div style="margin-bottom:5pt;margin-top:5pt;text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP) requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent liabilities as of the balance sheet date, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the year. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant estimates and judgments include those related to revenue recognition, investments, inventories, intangible assets, stock-based compensation, income taxes, business combinations, and restructuring charges.</span></div>
CY2020	cgnx	Availableforsale Securities Debt Maturities Effective Term Maximum AvailableforsaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesEffectiveTermMaximum	P10Y
CY2020	us-gaap	Advertising Expense AdvertisingExpense	1443000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Advertising Expense AdvertisingExpense	1385000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Advertising Expense AdvertisingExpense	1662000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax	36912000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax	38027000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax	4382000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax	2023000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Adjustment For Long Term Intercompany Transactions Net Of Tax AdjustmentForLongTermIntercompanyTransactionsNetOfTax	1271000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliations Recurring Basis Liability Value FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationsRecurringBasisLiabilityValue	2554000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliations Recurring Basis Liability Value FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationsRecurringBasisLiabilityValue	1153000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliations Recurring Basis Liability Value FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationsRecurringBasisLiabilityValue	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Operating Lease Impairment Loss OperatingLeaseImpairmentLoss	3427000	USD
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Impairment Of Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill	19571000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash	266609000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash	155498000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Money Market Funds At Carrying Value MoneyMarketFundsAtCarryingValue	2464000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Money Market Funds At Carrying Value MoneyMarketFundsAtCarryingValue	15933000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	269073000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	171431000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Securities Current AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecuritiesCurrent	103240000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Securities Current AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecuritiesCurrent	240470000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Investments LongTermInvestments	395125000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Investments LongTermInvestments	433452000	USD
CY2020Q4	cgnx	Cash Cash Equivalents Short Term And Long Term Investments CashCashEquivalentsShortTermAndLongTermInvestments	767438000	USD
CY2019Q4	cgnx	Cash Cash Equivalents Short Term And Long Term Investments CashCashEquivalentsShortTermAndLongTermInvestments	845353000	USD
CY2020Q4	cgnx	Due From Foreign Banks DueFromForeignBanks	225853000	USD
CY2019Q4	cgnx	Due From Foreign Banks DueFromForeignBanks	123499000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Interest Receivable InterestReceivable	1560000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Interest Receivable InterestReceivable	2874000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Debt Securities Amortized Cost Basis AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAmortizedCostBasis	492675000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Accumulated Gross Unrealized Gain Before Tax AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax	5690000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Securities AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities	498365000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Allowance For Credit Loss DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleAllowanceForCreditLoss	0	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Allowance For Credit Loss DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleAllowanceForCreditLoss	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Change In Present Value Expense Reversal DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleChangeInPresentValueExpenseReversal	160000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Allowance For Credit Loss Recovery DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleAllowanceForCreditLossRecovery	-160000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Allowance For Credit Loss Writeoff DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleAllowanceForCreditLossWriteoff	0	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Allowance For Credit Loss DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleAllowanceForCreditLoss	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Gross Realized Gains AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedGains	4283000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Gross Realized Gains AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedGains	1581000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Gross Realized Gains AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedGains	669000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Gross Realized Losses AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedLosses	164000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Gross Realized Losses AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedLosses	129000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Gross Realized Losses AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedLosses	168000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities Within One Year Fair Value AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesWithinOneYearFairValue	103240000	USD
CY2020Q4	cgnx	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities After One Year Before Two Years Fair Value AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAfterOneYearBeforeTwoYearsFairValue	192494000	USD
CY2020Q4	cgnx	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities After Two Years Before Three Years Fair Value AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAfterTwoYearsBeforeThreeYearsFairValue	186604000	USD
CY2020Q4	cgnx	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities After Three Years Before Four Years Fair Value AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAfterThreeYearsBeforeFourYearsFairValue	14949000	USD
CY2020Q4	cgnx	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities After Four Years Before Five Years Fair Value AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAfterFourYearsBeforeFiveYearsFairValue	1078000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Securities AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities	498365000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Raw Materials Net Of Reserves InventoryRawMaterialsNetOfReserves	26800000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Raw Materials Net Of Reserves InventoryRawMaterialsNetOfReserves	27285000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Work In Process Net Of Reserves InventoryWorkInProcessNetOfReserves	4780000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Work In Process Net Of Reserves InventoryWorkInProcessNetOfReserves	5503000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Finished Goods Net Of Reserves InventoryFinishedGoodsNetOfReserves	29250000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Finished Goods Net Of Reserves InventoryFinishedGoodsNetOfReserves	27473000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Net InventoryNet	60830000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Net InventoryNet	60261000	USD
CY2020	cgnx	Excess And Obsolete Inventory Charges ExcessAndObsoleteInventoryCharges	9908000	USD
CY2019	cgnx	Excess And Obsolete Inventory Charges ExcessAndObsoleteInventoryCharges	5296000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	181494000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	194115000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	102321000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	104672000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	79173000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	89443000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Disposals PropertyPlantAndEquipmentDisposals	26829000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Sale Of Property Plant And Equipment1 AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationSaleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipment1	24977000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Disposition Of Assets1 GainLossOnDispositionOfAssets1	-1852000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Disposals PropertyPlantAndEquipmentDisposals	8883000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Sale Of Property Plant And Equipment1 AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationSaleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipment1	8559000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Disposition Of Assets1 GainLossOnDispositionOfAssets1	-324000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Property Subject To Or Available For Operating Lease Gross PropertySubjectToOrAvailableForOperatingLeaseGross	800000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Property Subject To Or Available For Operating Lease Accumulated Depreciation PropertySubjectToOrAvailableForOperatingLeaseAccumulatedDepreciation	255000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Operating Lease Expense OperatingLeaseExpense	8180000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Operating Lease Payments OperatingLeasePayments	8009000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Operating Lease Expense OperatingLeaseExpense	6893000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Operating Lease Payments OperatingLeasePayments	6530000	USD
CY2020	cgnx	Operating Lease Expense No Liability Or Asset Recognized OperatingLeaseExpenseNoLiabilityOrAssetRecognized	123000	USD
CY2019	cgnx	Operating Lease Expense No Liability Or Asset Recognized OperatingLeaseExpenseNoLiabilityOrAssetRecognized	275000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Lease And Rental Expense LeaseAndRentalExpense	8186000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Next Twelve Months LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueNextTwelveMonths	9101000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Two LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearTwo	6863000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Three LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearThree	5072000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Four LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearFour	2074000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Five LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearFive	1317000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due After Year Five LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueAfterYearFive	4960000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDue	29387000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability OperatingLeaseLiability	26230000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability OperatingLeaseLiability	17973000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Weighted Average Discount Rate Percent OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageDiscountRatePercent	0.040
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Weighted Average Discount Rate Percent OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageDiscountRatePercent	0.046
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term1 OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageRemainingLeaseTerm1	P5Y1M6D
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term1 OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageRemainingLeaseTerm1	P3Y8M12D
CY2020Q2	cgnx	Operating Lease Right Of Use Asset Carrying Value Of Impaired Asset OperatingLeaseRightOfUseAssetCarryingValueOfImpairedAsset	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Operating Lease Impairment Loss OperatingLeaseImpairmentLoss	3427000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Operating Lease Lease Income OperatingLeaseLeaseIncome	77000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Rental Income Nonoperating RentalIncomeNonoperating	311000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Rental Income Nonoperating RentalIncomeNonoperating	1116000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	113208000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	243445000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Goodwill Foreign Currency Translation Gain Loss GoodwillForeignCurrencyTranslationGainLoss	95000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Goodwill Foreign Currency Translation Gain Loss GoodwillForeignCurrencyTranslationGainLoss	1637000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	244078000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Previous Acquisition PaymentsForProceedsFromPreviousAcquisition	1004000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Gross FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross	73675000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Accumulated Amortization FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization	58120000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Intangible Assets Net Including Goodwill IntangibleAssetsNetIncludingGoodwill	15555000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Gross FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross	93474000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Accumulated Amortization FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization	53984000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Net FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet	39490000	USD
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Impairment Of Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill	19571000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Next Twelve Months FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseNextTwelveMonths	3656000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Two FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearTwo	3286000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Three FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearThree	2594000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Four FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFour	2080000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Five FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFive	1757000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense After Year Five FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseAfterYearFive	2182000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Net FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet	15555000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Bonuses Current AccruedBonusesCurrent	19343000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Bonuses Current AccruedBonusesCurrent	0	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Salaries Current AccruedSalariesCurrent	14025000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Salaries Current AccruedSalariesCurrent	11500000	USD
CY2020Q4	cgnx	Retirement Allowance RetirementAllowance	6886000	USD
CY2019Q4	cgnx	Retirement Allowance RetirementAllowance	6146000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Product Warranty Accrual Classified Current ProductWarrantyAccrualClassifiedCurrent	5406000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Product Warranty Accrual Classified Current ProductWarrantyAccrualClassifiedCurrent	4713000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Vacation Current AccruedVacationCurrent	3641000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Vacation Current AccruedVacationCurrent	4708000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Other Accrued Liabilities Current OtherAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	27963000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Accrued Liabilities Current OtherAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	25132000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Liabilities Current AccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	77264000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Liabilities Current AccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	52199000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Product Warranty Accrual ProductWarrantyAccrual	4743000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Product Warranty Accrual Warranties Issued ProductWarrantyAccrualWarrantiesIssued	3841000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Product Warranty Accrual Payments ProductWarrantyAccrualPayments	3871000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Product Warranty Accrual ProductWarrantyAccrual	4713000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Product Warranty Accrual Warranties Issued ProductWarrantyAccrualWarrantiesIssued	3463000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Product Warranty Accrual Payments ProductWarrantyAccrualPayments	2770000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Product Warranty Accrual ProductWarrantyAccrual	5406000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Purchase Commitment Remaining Minimum Amount Committed PurchaseCommitmentRemainingMinimumAmountCommitted	32315000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Fair Value Of Derivative Asset DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset	265000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Fair Value Of Derivative Asset DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset	857000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Fair Value Of Derivative Liability DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability	38000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Fair Value Of Derivative Liability DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability	23000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Asset Collateral Obligation To Return Cash Offset DerivativeAssetCollateralObligationToReturnCashOffset	0	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Asset Collateral Obligation To Return Cash Offset DerivativeAssetCollateralObligationToReturnCashOffset	0	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Liability Collateral Right To Reclaim Cash Offset DerivativeLiabilityCollateralRightToReclaimCashOffset	0	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Liability Collateral Right To Reclaim Cash Offset DerivativeLiabilityCollateralRightToReclaimCashOffset	0	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Assets DerivativeAssets	265000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Assets DerivativeAssets	857000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Liabilities DerivativeLiabilities	38000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Liabilities DerivativeLiabilities	23000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	811020000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	725625000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	806338000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	811020000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	725625000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	806338000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Capitalized Contract Cost Gross CapitalizedContractCostGross	6846000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Capitalized Contract Cost Gross CapitalizedContractCostGross	3963000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable	596000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Provision For Doubtful Accounts ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts	215000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable Write Offs AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableWriteOffs	286000	USD
CY2019	cgnx	Accounts Receivable Allowance For Credit Loss Foreign Exchange Rate Adjustment AccountsReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossForeignExchangeRateAdjustment	5000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable	530000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Provision For Doubtful Accounts ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts	600000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable Write Offs AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableWriteOffs	300000	USD
CY2020	cgnx	Accounts Receivable Allowance For Credit Loss Foreign Exchange Rate Adjustment AccountsReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossForeignExchangeRateAdjustment	1000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable	831000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Liability Current ContractWithCustomerLiabilityCurrent	9845000	USD
CY2019	cgnx	Contract With Customer Liability Period Increase Decrease ContractWithCustomerLiabilityPeriodIncreaseDecrease	53422000	USD
CY2019	cgnx	Contract With Customer Liability Current And Prior Period Revenue Recognized ContractWithCustomerLiabilityCurrentAndPriorPeriodRevenueRecognized	48730000	USD
CY2019	cgnx	Contract Liability Foreign Exchange Rate Changes ContractLiabilityForeignExchangeRateChanges	-105000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Liability Current ContractWithCustomerLiabilityCurrent	14432000	USD
CY2020	cgnx	Contract With Customer Liability Period Increase Decrease ContractWithCustomerLiabilityPeriodIncreaseDecrease	120008000	USD
CY2020	cgnx	Contract With Customer Liability Current And Prior Period Revenue Recognized ContractWithCustomerLiabilityCurrentAndPriorPeriodRevenueRecognized	114014000	USD
CY2020	cgnx	Contract Liability Foreign Exchange Rate Changes ContractLiabilityForeignExchangeRateChanges	848000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Liability Current ContractWithCustomerLiabilityCurrent	21274000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Authorized PreferredStockSharesAuthorized	400000	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share PreferredStockParOrStatedValuePerShare	0.01
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare	0.002
CY2016Q2	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	200000000	shares
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	300000000	shares
CY2016Q2	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	10000000	shares
CY2020Q4	cgnx	Vote Entitled For Each Common Share Outstanding VoteEntitledForEachCommonShareOutstanding	1	Vote
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Cash Paid CommonStockDividendsPerShareCashPaid	2.00
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments Of Dividends PaymentsOfDividends	390508000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Payments Of Dividends PaymentsOfDividends	351428000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments Of Dividends PaymentsOfDividends	35124000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments Of Dividends PaymentsOfDividends	31865000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber	12899000	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice	37.95
CY2020	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriod	1245000	shares
CY2020	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	54.68
CY2020	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Shares Stock Options Exercised StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised	4565000	shares
CY2020	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercises In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	27.54
CY2020	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Forfeitures And Expirations In Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresAndExpirationsInPeriod	609000	shares
CY2020	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Forfeitures And Expirations In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresAndExpirationsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	50.28
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber	8970000	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice	44.73
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercisable Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageExercisePrice	33.79
CY2020	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term2 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm2	P7Y1M9D
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingIntrinsicValue	318873000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercisable Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableNumber	3135000	shares
CY2020	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Exercisable Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term1 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm1	P5Y7M6D
CY2020Q4	cgnx	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercisable Aggregate Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableAggregateIntrinsicValue	145735000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Vested And Expected To Vest Exercisable Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestExercisableNumber	8235000	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Vested And Expected To Vest Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice	44.08
CY2020	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Vested And Expected To Vest Outstanding Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term1 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm1	P7Y3D
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Vested And Expected To Vest Outstanding Aggregate Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingAggregateIntrinsicValue	298118000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue	19.62
CY2019	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue	18.62
CY2018	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue	20.84
CY2020	cgnx	Shares Based Compensation Arrangement By Shares Based Payment Award Options Exercised Intrinsic Value SharesBasedCompensationArrangementBySharesBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisedIntrinsicValue	166796000	USD
CY2020	cgnx	Company Contributions Vest At End Of One Year CompanyContributionsVestAtEndOfOneYear	0.25
CY2019	cgnx	Shares Based Compensation Arrangement By Shares Based Payment Award Options Exercised Intrinsic Value SharesBasedCompensationArrangementBySharesBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisedIntrinsicValue	90762000	USD
CY2018	cgnx	Shares Based Compensation Arrangement By Shares Based Payment Award Options Exercised Intrinsic Value SharesBasedCompensationArrangementBySharesBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisedIntrinsicValue	52629000	USD
CY2020	cgnx	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Vested Fair Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedFairValue	45998000	USD
CY2019	cgnx	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Vested Fair Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedFairValue	38974000	USD
CY2018	cgnx	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Vested Fair Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedFairValue	31106000	USD
CY2020Q4	cgnx	Number Of Groups Within Employee Population NumberOfGroupsWithinEmployeePopulation	2	group
CY2020Q4	cgnx	Estimated Forfeiture Rate For Unvested Options For Senior Management EstimatedForfeitureRateForUnvestedOptionsForSeniorManagement	0.07
CY2020Q4	cgnx	Estimated Forfeiture Rate For Unvested Options For All Non Senior Management EstimatedForfeitureRateForUnvestedOptionsForAllNonSeniorManagement	0.12
CY2020	cgnx	Increase Decrease In Compensation Expense Due To Revised Estimated Forfeiture Rates IncreaseDecreaseInCompensationExpenseDueToRevisedEstimatedForfeitureRates	1787000	USD
CY2019	cgnx	Increase Decrease In Compensation Expense Due To Revised Estimated Forfeiture Rates IncreaseDecreaseInCompensationExpenseDueToRevisedEstimatedForfeitureRates	499000	USD
CY2018	cgnx	Increase Decrease In Compensation Expense Due To Revised Estimated Forfeiture Rates IncreaseDecreaseInCompensationExpenseDueToRevisedEstimatedForfeitureRates	1283000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Nonvested Awards Total Compensation Cost Not Yet Recognized Stock Options EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedStockOptions	51825000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Nonvested Awards Total Compensation Cost Not Yet Recognized Period For Recognition1 EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedPeriodForRecognition1	P1Y8M12D
CY2020	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	42661000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	1401000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	10624000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	41090000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Tax Benefit From Compensation Expense EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense	6569000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	45589000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Tax Benefit From Compensation Expense EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense	7756000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Tax Benefit From Compensation Expense EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense	7317000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	42661000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	45589000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	41090000	USD
CY2020	cgnx	Minimum Age To Be Eligible To Defined Contribution Plan MinimumAgeToBeEligibleToDefinedContributionPlan	P21Y
CY2020	us-gaap	Defined Contribution Plan Maximum Annual Contributions Per Employee Percent DefinedContributionPlanMaximumAnnualContributionsPerEmployeePercent	1
CY2020	us-gaap	Defined Contribution Plan Employer Matching Contribution Percent Of Match DefinedContributionPlanEmployerMatchingContributionPercentOfMatch	0.50
CY2020	us-gaap	Defined Contribution Plan Employer Matching Contribution Percent DefinedContributionPlanEmployerMatchingContributionPercent	0.06
CY2020	cgnx	Company Contributions Vest At End Of Two Year CompanyContributionsVestAtEndOfTwoYear	0.50
CY2020	cgnx	Company Contributions Vest At End Of Three Years CompanyContributionsVestAtEndOfThreeYears	0.75
CY2020	cgnx	Company Contributions Vest At End Of Four Years CompanyContributionsVestAtEndOfFourYears	1
CY2020	us-gaap	Defined Contribution Plan Cost Recognized DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized	2636000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Defined Contribution Plan Cost Recognized DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized	2729000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Defined Contribution Plan Cost Recognized DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized	2540000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Domestic IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesDomestic	39425000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Domestic IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesDomestic	31396000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Domestic IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesDomestic	39042000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Foreign IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesForeign	147486000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Foreign IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesForeign	131598000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Foreign IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesForeign	195532000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	160000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	15854000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Deferred Foreign Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-28000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-3553000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Current Foreign Tax Expense Benefit CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit	13197000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Current Foreign Tax Expense Benefit CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit	30670000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Current State And Local Tax Expense Benefit CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit	921000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Current State And Local Tax Expense Benefit CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit	2108000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Current State And Local Tax Expense Benefit CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit	-879000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Current Foreign Tax Expense Benefit CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit	6307000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Current Income Tax Expense Benefit CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	14278000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Current Income Tax Expense Benefit CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	48632000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Current Income Tax Expense Benefit CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	16052000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Deferred Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-18266000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Deferred Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	352808000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Deferred Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-1271000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Deferred State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-556000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Deferred State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	183000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Deferred State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	554000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Deferred Foreign Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	15269000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Deferred Foreign Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-442494000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Tax Credits EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCredits	0
CY2019	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-89503000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-745000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	10725000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-40871000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	15307000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	0.21
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	0.21
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	0.21
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	0.01
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	0.02
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	0.01
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Foreign Income Tax Rate Differential EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential	-0.06
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Foreign Income Tax Rate Differential EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential	-0.09
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Foreign Income Tax Rate Differential EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential	-0.09
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Tax Credits EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCredits	0.01
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Tax Credits EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCredits	0.01
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Share Based Compensation Excess Tax Benefit Percent EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationShareBasedCompensationExcessTaxBenefitPercent	0.07
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Share Based Compensation Excess Tax Benefit Percent EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationShareBasedCompensationExcessTaxBenefitPercent	0.04
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Share Based Compensation Excess Tax Benefit Percent EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationShareBasedCompensationExcessTaxBenefitPercent	0.04
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Tax Settlements EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxSettlements	-0.05
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Tax Settlements EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxSettlements	0
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Tax Settlements EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxSettlements	0
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Tax Settlements Foreign EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxSettlementsForeign	0.01
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Tax Settlements Foreign EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxSettlementsForeign	0
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Tax Settlements Foreign EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxSettlementsForeign	0
CY2020	cgnx	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Migrationof Acquired Intellectual Property EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationMigrationofAcquiredIntellectualProperty	0
CY2019	cgnx	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Migrationof Acquired Intellectual Property EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationMigrationofAcquiredIntellectualProperty	0.18
CY2018	cgnx	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Migrationof Acquired Intellectual Property EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationMigrationofAcquiredIntellectualProperty	0
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Change In Enacted Tax Rate EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInEnactedTaxRate	0
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Change In Enacted Tax Rate EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInEnactedTaxRate	-2.68
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Change In Enacted Tax Rate EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInEnactedTaxRate	0
CY2020	cgnx	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Tax Cutsand Jobs Act Global Intangible Low Tax Income Percent EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCutsandJobsActGlobalIntangibleLowTaxIncomePercent	0
CY2019	cgnx	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Tax Cutsand Jobs Act Global Intangible Low Tax Income Percent EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCutsandJobsActGlobalIntangibleLowTaxIncomePercent	2.14
CY2018	cgnx	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Tax Cutsand Jobs Act Global Intangible Low Tax Income Percent EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCutsandJobsActGlobalIntangibleLowTaxIncomePercent	0
CY2020	cgnx	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Discrete Tax Expense Tax And Jobs Act Percent EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationDiscreteTaxExpenseTaxAndJobsActPercent	0
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Other Reconciling Items Percent EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherReconcilingItemsPercent	0
CY2019	cgnx	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Discrete Tax Expense Tax And Jobs Act Percent EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationDiscreteTaxExpenseTaxAndJobsActPercent	0
CY2018	cgnx	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Discrete Tax Expense Tax And Jobs Act Percent EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationDiscreteTaxExpenseTaxAndJobsActPercent	-0.03
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Other Reconciling Items Percent EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherReconcilingItemsPercent	-0.01
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Other Reconciling Items Percent EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherReconcilingItemsPercent	0
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Other Adjustments EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments	0.02
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Other Adjustments EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments	0.03
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Other Adjustments EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments	0.01
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Continuing Operations EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations	0.06
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Continuing Operations EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations	-0.25
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Continuing Operations EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations	0.07
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	162994000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-40871000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	203865000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	1.19
CY2019	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	1.16
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Gross DeferredTaxAssetsGross	449519000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Liabilities DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilities	332344000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Retained Earnings Accumulated Deficit RetainedEarningsAccumulatedDeficit	753268000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Share Based Compensation Excess Tax Benefit Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationShareBasedCompensationExcessTaxBenefitAmount	12788000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Share Based Compensation Excess Tax Benefit Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationShareBasedCompensationExcessTaxBenefitAmount	6472000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Share Based Compensation Excess Tax Benefit Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationShareBasedCompensationExcessTaxBenefitAmount	8488000	USD
CY2019Q4	cgnx	Deferred Tax Assets Foreign Tax Structure Change DeferredTaxAssetsForeignTaxStructureChange	437500000	USD
CY2019Q4	cgnx	Deferred Tax Liabilities Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Global Intangible Low Tax Income DeferredTaxLiabilitiesTaxCutsAndJobsActGlobalIntangibleLowTaxIncome	350000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Foreign Income Tax Rate Differential IncomeTaxReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential	87500000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Of2017 Measurement Period Adjustment Income Tax Expense Benefit TaxCutsAndJobsActOf2017MeasurementPeriodAdjustmentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	3240000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Of2017 Transition Tax For Accumulated Foreign Earnings Income Tax Expense TaxCutsAndJobsActOf2017TransitionTaxForAccumulatedForeignEarningsIncomeTaxExpense	11028000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Of2017 Transition Tax For Accumulated Foreign Earnings Liability TaxCutsAndJobsActOf2017TransitionTaxForAccumulatedForeignEarningsLiability	90351000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Tax Settlements Other IncomeTaxReconciliationTaxSettlementsOther	307000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Tax Settlements Other IncomeTaxReconciliationTaxSettlementsOther	1932000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Tax Settlements Other IncomeTaxReconciliationTaxSettlementsOther	1847000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Foreign Income Tax Rate Differential EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential	-0.09
CY2020	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Income Tax Penalties And Interest Expense UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestExpense	340000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	7294000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	199000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Current Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions	5259000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Reductions Resulting From Lapse Of Applicable Statute Of Limitations UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations	1161000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	11591000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Period Increase Decrease UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsPeriodIncreaseDecrease	162000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Current Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions	3383000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Reductions Resulting From Lapse Of Applicable Statute Of Limitations UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations	1184000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	13952000	USD
CY2020Q4	cgnx	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Gross UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsGross	15285000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Liability For Uncertain Tax Positions Noncurrent LiabilityForUncertainTaxPositionsNoncurrent	14257000	USD
CY2020Q4	cgnx	Unrecognizedtaxbenefitshownasareductiontononcurrentdeferredtaxassets Unrecognizedtaxbenefitshownasareductiontononcurrentdeferredtaxassets	1028000	USD
CY2019Q4	cgnx	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Gross UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsGross	12591000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Liability For Uncertain Tax Positions Noncurrent LiabilityForUncertainTaxPositionsNoncurrent	11563000	USD
CY2019Q4	cgnx	Unrecognizedtaxbenefitshownasareductiontononcurrentdeferredtaxassets Unrecognizedtaxbenefitshownasareductiontononcurrentdeferredtaxassets	1028000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Income Tax Penalties And Interest Accrued UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestAccrued	1332000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Income Tax Penalties And Interest Accrued UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestAccrued	1000000	USD
CY2020	cgnx	Minimum Decrease In Income Tax Expense Due To Release In Reserves MinimumDecreaseInIncomeTaxExpenseDueToReleaseInReserves	1900000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Foreign Income Tax Rate Differential EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential	-0.09
CY2020	cgnx	Maximum Decrease In Income Tax Expense Due To Release In Reserves MaximumDecreaseInIncomeTaxExpenseDueToReleaseInReserves	2000000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Foreign Income Tax Rate Differential EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential	-0.06
CY2019	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Income Tax Penalties And Interest Expense UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestExpense	116000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Income Tax Penalties And Interest Expense UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestExpense	91000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	33695000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	13443000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	41430000	USD
CY2020Q4	cgnx	Deferred Tax Assets Intangible Asset Changein Tax Structure DeferredTaxAssetsIntangibleAssetChangeinTaxStructure	424156000	USD
CY2019Q4	cgnx	Deferred Tax Assets Intangible Asset Changein Tax Structure DeferredTaxAssetsIntangibleAssetChangeinTaxStructure	437500000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Compensation And Benefits Share Based Compensation Cost DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsShareBasedCompensationCost	13294000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Compensation And Benefits Share Based Compensation Cost DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsShareBasedCompensationCost	15042000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Operating Loss Carryforwards Domestic DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwardsDomestic	10171000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Operating Loss Carryforwards Domestic DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwardsDomestic	8491000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Inventory DeferredTaxAssetsInventory	5976000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Inventory DeferredTaxAssetsInventory	2934000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Compensation And Benefits Other DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsOther	4932000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Compensation And Benefits Other DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsOther	1609000	USD
CY2020Q4	cgnx	Noncurrent Deferred Tax Assets Deprecation NoncurrentDeferredTaxAssetsDeprecation	4211000	USD
CY2019Q4	cgnx	Noncurrent Deferred Tax Assets Deprecation NoncurrentDeferredTaxAssetsDeprecation	3522000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Operating Loss Carryforwards Foreign DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwardsForeign	602000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Operating Loss Carryforwards Foreign DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwardsForeign	4286000	USD
CY2020Q4	cgnx	Deferred Tax Assets Other Noncurrent DeferredTaxAssetsOtherNoncurrent	4342000	USD
CY2019Q4	cgnx	Deferred Tax Assets Other Noncurrent DeferredTaxAssetsOtherNoncurrent	3550000	USD
CY2020Q4	cgnx	Deferred Tax Assets With Jurisdictional Netting Gross DeferredTaxAssetsWithJurisdictionalNettingGross	467684000	USD
CY2019Q4	cgnx	Deferred Tax Assets With Jurisdictional Netting Gross DeferredTaxAssetsWithJurisdictionalNettingGross	476934000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	8568000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	7312000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Liabilities Net DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet	459116000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Liabilities Net DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet	469622000	USD
CY2020Q4	cgnx	Deferred Tax Liabilities Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Global Intangible Low Tax Income DeferredTaxLiabilitiesTaxCutsAndJobsActGlobalIntangibleLowTaxIncome	339325000	USD
CY2019Q4	cgnx	Deferred Tax Liabilities Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Global Intangible Low Tax Income DeferredTaxLiabilitiesTaxCutsAndJobsActGlobalIntangibleLowTaxIncome	350000000	USD
CY2020Q4	cgnx	Deferred Tax Liabilities Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Other Global Intangible Low Tax Income DeferredTaxLiabilitiesTaxCutsAndJobsActOtherGlobalIntangibleLowTaxIncome	39000	USD
CY2019Q4	cgnx	Deferred Tax Liabilities Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Other Global Intangible Low Tax Income DeferredTaxLiabilitiesTaxCutsAndJobsActOtherGlobalIntangibleLowTaxIncome	2446000	USD
CY2020Q4	cgnx	Deferred Tax Liabilities With Jurisdictional Netting Gross DeferredTaxLiabilitiesWithJurisdictionalNettingGross	339364000	USD
CY2019Q4	cgnx	Deferred Tax Liabilities With Jurisdictional Netting Gross DeferredTaxLiabilitiesWithJurisdictionalNettingGross	352446000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	173489000	shares
CY2019	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	171194000	shares
CY2018	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	172333000	shares
CY2020	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment WeightedAverageNumberDilutedSharesOutstandingAdjustment	3103000	shares
CY2019	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment WeightedAverageNumberDilutedSharesOutstandingAdjustment	4075000	shares
CY2018	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment WeightedAverageNumberDilutedSharesOutstandingAdjustment	5073000	shares
CY2020	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	176592000	shares
CY2019	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	175269000	shares
CY2018	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	177406000	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	59085000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	20477000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Number Of Reportable Segments NumberOfReportableSegments	1	Segment
CY2020	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	811020000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Noncurrent Assets NoncurrentAssets	86967000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	725625000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Noncurrent Assets NoncurrentAssets	95276000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	806338000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Noncurrent Assets NoncurrentAssets	95321000	USD
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Impairment Of Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill	19571000	USD
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Restructuring And Related Cost Number Of Positions Eliminated Inception To Date Percent RestructuringAndRelatedCostNumberOfPositionsEliminatedInceptionToDatePercent	0.08
CY2020	us-gaap	Restructuring Charges RestructuringCharges	15924000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Restructuring Charges RestructuringCharges	15924000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Restructuring And Related Cost Number Of Positions Eliminated RestructuringAndRelatedCostNumberOfPositionsEliminated	181	Employees
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	167235000	USD
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	169097000	USD
CY2020Q3	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	251073000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	223615000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	126035000	USD
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	118777000	USD
CY2020Q3	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	191332000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	168455000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Restructuring Charges RestructuringCharges	0	USD
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Restructuring Charges RestructuringCharges	14798000	USD
CY2020Q3	us-gaap	Restructuring Charges RestructuringCharges	251000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Restructuring Charges RestructuringCharges	875000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Impairment Of Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill	0	USD
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Impairment Of Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill	19571000	USD
CY2020Q3	us-gaap	Impairment Of Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill	0	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Impairment Of Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill	0	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	20951000	USD
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	-6142000	USD
CY2020Q3	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	96635000	USD
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	-0.01
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	69345000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.12
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-1142000	USD
CY2020Q3	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	87506000	USD
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	-0.01
CY2020Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.50
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.40
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.12
CY2020Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.49
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.39
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	173484000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	199047000	USD
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	183325000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	169769000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	127200000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	148080000	USD
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	135693000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	124898000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	30147000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	51756000	USD
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	43092000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	17607000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	33104000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	48749000	USD
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	41685000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	80327000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.19
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.28
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.24
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.47
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.19
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.28
CY2019Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.24
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.46

Files In Submission

Name	View Source	Status
0000851205-21-000005-index-headers.html	Edgar Link	pending
0000851205-21-000005-index.html	Edgar Link	pending
0000851205-21-000005.txt	Edgar Link	pending
0000851205-21-000005-xbrl.zip	Edgar Link	pending
cgnx-20201231.htm	Edgar Link	pending
cgnx-20201231.xsd	Edgar Link	pending
cgnx-20201231xexhibit21.htm	Edgar Link	pending
cgnx-20201231xexhibit231.htm	Edgar Link	pending
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cgnx-20201231_cal.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
cgnx-20201231_def.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
cgnx-20201231_g1.jpg	Edgar Link	pending
cgnx-20201231_htm.xml	Edgar Link	completed
cgnx-20201231_lab.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
cgnx-20201231_pre.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
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$CGNX
COGNEX CORP Stock $cgnx

2021 Q1 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000085120521000005 Filed on February 11, 2021

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cashflow Statement

Facts In Submission

Files In Submission

$CGNX COGNEX CORP Stock $cgnx

2021 Q1 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000085120521000005 Filed on February 11, 2021

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cashflow Statement

Facts In Submission

Files In Submission

$CGNX
COGNEX CORP Stock $cgnx