$FSLR
First Solar Inc Stock $fslr

$fslr Overview Financials Valuation SEC Filings Company Website

2019 Q2 Form 10-Q Financial Statement

#000127449419000032 Filed on August 02, 2019

Income Statement

Concept	2019 Q2	2018 Q2	2018 Q1
Revenue	$585.0M	$309.3M	$567.3M
YoY Change	89.11%	-50.38%	-36.39%
Cost Of Revenue	$507.8M	$317.4M	$394.5M
YoY Change	59.99%	-38.06%	-51.16%
Gross Profit	$77.18M	-$8.058M	$172.8M
YoY Change	-1057.83%	-107.27%	105.26%
Gross Profit Margin	13.19%	-2.61%	30.46%
Selling, General & Admin	$50.93M	$50.85M	$41.13M
YoY Change	0.16%	3.87%	-14.67%
% of Gross Profit	65.99%		23.8%
Research & Development	$24.40M	$20.37M	$20.32M
YoY Change	19.76%	-4.55%	-10.86%
% of Gross Profit	31.61%		11.76%
Depreciation & Amortization	$49.90M	$30.40M	$24.40M
YoY Change	64.14%	8.96%	-26.06%
% of Gross Profit	64.65%		14.12%
Operating Expenses	$85.77M	$95.58M	$98.53M
YoY Change	-10.26%	-1.43%	6.89%
Operating Profit	-$8.584M	-$103.6M	$74.26M
YoY Change	-91.72%	-844.07%	-1028.88%
Interest Expense	$8.921M	$6.065M	$5.182M
YoY Change	47.09%	-4.85%	-43.48%
% of Operating Profit			6.98%
Other Income/Expense, Net	-$4.438M	-$4.328M	$17.93M
YoY Change	2.54%	60.36%	-30.65%
Pretax Income	-$6.707M	-$94.74M	$96.32M
YoY Change	-92.92%	-1050.63%	527.1%
Income Tax	$11.74M	-$6.164M	$11.63M
% Of Pretax Income			12.07%
Net Earnings	-$18.55M	-$48.49M	$82.95M
YoY Change	-61.75%	-193.32%	808.65%
Net Earnings / Revenue	-3.17%	-15.68%	14.62%
Basic Earnings Per Share	-$0.18	-$0.46	$0.79
Diluted Earnings Per Share	-$0.18	-$0.46	$0.78
COMMON SHARES
Basic Shares Outstanding	105.4M shares	104.8M shares	104.6M shares
Diluted Shares Outstanding	105.4M shares	104.8M shares	106.3M shares

Balance Sheet

Concept	2019 Q2	2018 Q2	2018 Q1
SHORT-TERM ASSETS
Cash & Short-Term Investments	$2.029B	$3.135B	$2.879B
YoY Change	-35.27%	40.64%	17.7%
Cash & Equivalents	$1.222B	$2.024B	$1.858B
Short-Term Investments	$807.6M	$1.110B	$1.020B
Other Short-Term Assets	$37.33M	$65.22M	$113.8M
YoY Change	-42.76%	5.6%	103.59%
Inventory	$586.6M	$234.2M	$174.1M
Prepaid Expenses	$117.4M	$62.14M	$52.77M
Receivables	$269.5M	$125.4M	$273.3M
Other Receivables	$61.50M	$34.60M	$29.90M
Total Short-Term Assets	$3.412B	$3.986B	$3.770B
YoY Change	-14.4%	15.98%	13.21%
LONG-TERM ASSETS
Property, Plant & Equipment	$2.006B	$1.484B	$1.312B
YoY Change	35.18%	89.08%	89.61%
Goodwill	$14.46M	$14.46M	$14.46M
YoY Change	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
Intangibles	$69.12M	$77.10M	$79.61M
YoY Change	-10.35%	-8.04%	-7.33%
Long-Term Investments	$2.833M	$8.110M	$201.0M
YoY Change	-65.07%	-96.37%	-11.16%
Other Assets	$248.1M	$93.45M	$94.70M
YoY Change	165.5%	6.18%	11.27%
Total Long-Term Assets	$3.726B	$3.040B	$3.070B
YoY Change	22.57%	-6.28%	-6.24%
TOTAL ASSETS
Total Short-Term Assets	$3.412B	$3.986B	$3.770B
Total Long-Term Assets	$3.726B	$3.040B	$3.070B
Total Assets	$7.138B	$7.026B	$6.840B
YoY Change	1.6%	5.17%	3.57%
SHORT-TERM LIABILITIES
YoY Change
Accounts Payable	$242.5M	$161.1M	$136.9M
YoY Change	50.52%	36.47%	-4.57%
Accrued Expenses	$421.6M	$381.1M	$297.4M
YoY Change	10.64%	100.08%	60.49%
Deferred Revenue
YoY Change
Short-Term Debt	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
YoY Change
Long-Term Debt Due	$28.30M	$7.700M	$6.100M
YoY Change	267.53%	-43.38%	-46.96%
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$843.3M	$815.4M	$553.7M
YoY Change	3.42%	61.84%	5.06%
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
Long-Term Debt	$453.0M	$448.6M	$431.8M
YoY Change	0.98%	18.87%	28.63%
Other Long-Term Liabilities	$570.1M	$484.1M	$524.9M
YoY Change	17.78%	20.21%	26.56%
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$570.1M	$484.1M	$524.9M
YoY Change	17.78%	20.21%	26.56%
TOTAL LIABILITIES
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$843.3M	$815.4M	$553.7M
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$570.1M	$484.1M	$524.9M
Total Liabilities	$2.003B	$1.915B	$1.681B
YoY Change	4.59%	37.86%	22.09%
SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY
Retained Earnings	$2.355B	$2.332B	$2.380B
YoY Change	1.02%	-7.62%	-3.71%
Common Stock	$2.827B	$2.809B	$2.798B
YoY Change	0.61%	1.08%	1.07%
Preferred Stock
YoY Change
Treasury Stock (at cost)
YoY Change
Treasury Stock Shares
Shareholders Equity	$5.135B	$5.111B	$5.159B
YoY Change
Total Liabilities & Shareholders Equity	$7.138B	$7.026B	$6.840B
YoY Change	1.6%	5.17%	3.57%

Cashflow Statement

Concept	2019 Q2	2018 Q2	2018 Q1
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net Income	-$18.55M	-$48.49M	$82.95M
YoY Change	-61.75%	-193.32%	808.65%
Depreciation, Depletion And Amortization	$49.90M	$30.40M	$24.40M
YoY Change	64.14%	8.96%	-26.06%
Cash From Operating Activities	$13.50M	$129.2M	-$45.29M
YoY Change	-89.55%	-177.0%	-109.18%
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital Expenditures	-$178.6M	-$194.9M	$177.7M
YoY Change	-8.36%	86.51%	57.29%
Acquisitions
YoY Change
Other Investing Activities	$300.6M	$196.8M	$5.228M
YoY Change	52.74%	176.02%	-471.31%
Cash From Investing Activities	$121.9M	$1.900M	-$374.7M
YoY Change	6315.79%	-105.72%	27.8%
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Cash Dividend Paid
YoY Change
Common Stock Issuance & Retirement, Net
YoY Change
Debt Paid & Issued, Net
YoY Change
Cash From Financing Activities	-7.100M	27.80M	$42.16M
YoY Change	-125.54%	-19.88%	-58.74%
NET CHANGE
Cash From Operating Activities	13.50M	129.2M	-$45.29M
Cash From Investing Activities	121.9M	1.900M	-$374.7M
Cash From Financing Activities	-7.100M	27.80M	$42.16M
Net Change In Cash	128.3M	158.9M	-$382.9M
YoY Change	-19.26%	-195.55%	-229.88%
FREE CASH FLOW
Cash From Operating Activities	$13.50M	$129.2M	-$45.29M
Capital Expenditures	-$178.6M	-$194.9M	$177.7M
Free Cash Flow	$192.1M	$324.1M	-$223.0M
YoY Change	-40.73%	-612.01%	-158.66%

Facts In Submission

Frame	Concept Type	Concept / XBRL Key	Value	Unit
	dei	Amendment Flag AmendmentFlag	false
	dei	Current Fiscal Year End Date CurrentFiscalYearEndDate	--12-31
	dei	Document Fiscal Period Focus DocumentFiscalPeriodFocus	Q2
	dei	Document Fiscal Year Focus DocumentFiscalYearFocus	2019
	dei	Entity Central Index Key EntityCentralIndexKey	0001274494
CY2018Q4	fslr	Guarantor Obligations Carrying Value Non Current GuarantorObligationsCarryingValueNonCurrent	3000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare	0.001
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Common Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare	0.001
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	500000000	shares
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	500000000	shares
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Issued CommonStockSharesIssued	104885261	shares
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Issued CommonStockSharesIssued	105390383	shares
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Outstanding CommonStockSharesOutstanding	104885261	shares
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Outstanding CommonStockSharesOutstanding	105390383	shares
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Realized Gain DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleRealizedGain	100000	USD
	dei	Security12b Title Security12bTitle	Common stock, $0.001 par value
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Realized Gain DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleRealizedGain	0	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss On Derivatives Arising During Period Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodTax	914000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss On Derivatives Arising During Period Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodTax	978000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss On Derivatives Arising During Period Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodTax	-358000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss On Derivatives Arising During Period Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodTax	-331000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Holding Gain Loss On Securities Arising During Period Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodTax	-41000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Holding Gain Loss On Securities Arising During Period Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodTax	-3151000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Holding Gain Loss On Securities Arising During Period Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodTax	417000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Holding Gain Loss On Securities Arising During Period Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodTax	-560000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Available For Sale Securities Debt ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebt	10800000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Available For Sale Securities Debt ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebt	20000000	USD
	dei	Document Type DocumentType	10-Q
	dei	Document Quarterly Report DocumentQuarterlyReport	true
	dei	Document Period End Date DocumentPeriodEndDate	2019-06-30
	dei	Document Transition Report DocumentTransitionReport	false
	dei	Entity File Number EntityFileNumber	001-33156
	dei	Entity Registrant Name EntityRegistrantName	First Solar, Inc.
	dei	Entity Incorporation State Country Code EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode	DE
	dei	Entity Tax Identification Number EntityTaxIdentificationNumber	20-4623678
	dei	Entity Address Address Line1 EntityAddressAddressLine1	350 West Washington Street, Suite 600
	dei	Entity Address City Or Town EntityAddressCityOrTown	Tempe
	dei	Entity Address State Or Province EntityAddressStateOrProvince	AZ
	dei	Entity Address Postal Zip Code EntityAddressPostalZipCode	85281
	dei	City Area Code CityAreaCode	602
	dei	Local Phone Number LocalPhoneNumber	414-9300
	dei	Entity Current Reporting Status EntityCurrentReportingStatus	Yes
	dei	Trading Symbol TradingSymbol	FSLR
	dei	Security Exchange Name SecurityExchangeName	NASDAQ
	dei	Entity Interactive Data Current EntityInteractiveDataCurrent	Yes
	dei	Entity Filer Category EntityFilerCategory	Large Accelerated Filer
	dei	Entity Small Business EntitySmallBusiness	false
	dei	Entity Emerging Growth Company EntityEmergingGrowthCompany	false
	dei	Entity Shell Company EntityShellCompany	false
CY2019Q3	dei	Entity Common Stock Shares Outstanding EntityCommonStockSharesOutstanding	105394760	shares
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	584956000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	309318000	USD
	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	1116934000	USD
	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	876583000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods And Services Sold CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold	507774000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods And Services Sold CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold	317376000	USD
	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods And Services Sold CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold	1039640000	USD
	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods And Services Sold CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold	711843000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	77182000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	-8058000	USD
	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	77294000	USD
	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	164740000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	50934000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	50854000	USD
	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	96286000	USD
	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	91980000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	24395000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	20370000	USD
	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	46272000	USD
	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	40694000	USD
CY2019Q2	fslr	Production Start Up Expense ProductionStartUpExpense	10437000	USD
CY2018Q2	fslr	Production Start Up Expense ProductionStartUpExpense	24352000	USD
	fslr	Production Start Up Expense ProductionStartUpExpense	19959000	USD
	fslr	Production Start Up Expense ProductionStartUpExpense	61436000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Operating Expenses OperatingExpenses	85766000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Operating Expenses OperatingExpenses	95576000	USD
	us-gaap	Operating Expenses OperatingExpenses	162517000	USD
	us-gaap	Operating Expenses OperatingExpenses	194110000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	-8584000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	-103634000	USD
	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	-85223000	USD
	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	-29370000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Foreign Currency Transaction Gain Loss Before Tax ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax	1726000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Foreign Currency Transaction Gain Loss Before Tax ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax	2422000	USD
	us-gaap	Foreign Currency Transaction Gain Loss Before Tax ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax	1898000	USD
	us-gaap	Foreign Currency Transaction Gain Loss Before Tax ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax	-95000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest InvestmentIncomeInterest	13510000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest InvestmentIncomeInterest	16865000	USD
	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest InvestmentIncomeInterest	27769000	USD
	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest InvestmentIncomeInterest	28689000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	8921000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	6065000	USD
	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	19042000	USD
	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	11247000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Other Nonoperating Income Expense OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	-4438000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Other Nonoperating Income Expense OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	-4328000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Nonoperating Income Expense OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	-929000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Nonoperating Income Expense OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	13606000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	-6707000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	-94740000	USD
	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	-75527000	USD
	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	1583000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	11744000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-6164000	USD
	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	10350000	USD
	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	5461000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	-97000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	40085000	USD
	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	-270000	USD
	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	38338000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-18548000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-48491000	USD
	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-86147000	USD
	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	34460000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	-0.18
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	-0.46
	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	-0.82
	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.33
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	-0.18
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	-0.46
	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	-0.82
	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.32
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	105369000	shares
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	104776000	shares
	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	105208000	shares
	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	104664000	shares
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	105369000	shares
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	104776000	shares
	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	105208000	shares
	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	106234000	shares
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-18548000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-48491000	USD
	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-86147000	USD
	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	34460000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax	1467000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax	-15059000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax	325000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax	-9045000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax	11905000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax	506000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax	8558000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax	-25418000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Derivatives Qualifying As Hedges Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeDerivativesQualifyingAsHedgesNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent	-1279000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Derivatives Qualifying As Hedges Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeDerivativesQualifyingAsHedgesNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent	2899000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Derivatives Qualifying As Hedges Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeDerivativesQualifyingAsHedgesNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent	-1337000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Derivatives Qualifying As Hedges Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeDerivativesQualifyingAsHedgesNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent	1967000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent	12093000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent	-11654000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent	7546000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent	-32496000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	-6455000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	-60145000	USD
	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	-78601000	USD
	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	1964000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	1221568000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	1403562000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Securities Current AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecuritiesCurrent	807561000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Securities Current AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecuritiesCurrent	1143704000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Net Current AccountsReceivableNetCurrent	269527000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Net Current AccountsReceivableNetCurrent	128282000	USD
CY2019Q2	fslr	Accounts Receivable Unbilledand Retainage AccountsReceivableUnbilledandRetainage	127972000	USD
CY2018Q4	fslr	Accounts Receivable Unbilledand Retainage AccountsReceivableUnbilledandRetainage	458166000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Inventory Net InventoryNet	586621000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Net InventoryNet	387912000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Inventory For Long Term Contracts Or Programs InventoryForLongTermContractsOrPrograms	91728000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Inventory For Long Term Contracts Or Programs InventoryForLongTermContractsOrPrograms	56906000	USD
CY2019Q2	fslr	Project Assets Current ProjectAssetsCurrent	1703000	USD
CY2018Q4	fslr	Project Assets Current ProjectAssetsCurrent	37930000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Prepaid Expense And Other Assets Current PrepaidExpenseAndOtherAssetsCurrent	305566000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Prepaid Expense And Other Assets Current PrepaidExpenseAndOtherAssetsCurrent	243061000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Assets Current AssetsCurrent	3412246000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Assets Current AssetsCurrent	3859523000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	2006334000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	1756211000	USD
CY2019Q2	fslr	Pv Solar Power Systems Net PVSolarPowerSystemsNet	304657000	USD
CY2018Q4	fslr	Pv Solar Power Systems Net PVSolarPowerSystemsNet	308640000	USD
CY2019Q2	fslr	Project Assets Noncurrent ProjectAssetsNoncurrent	528246000	USD
CY2018Q4	fslr	Project Assets Noncurrent ProjectAssetsNoncurrent	460499000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net Noncurrent DeferredTaxAssetsNetNoncurrent	76892000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net Noncurrent DeferredTaxAssetsNetNoncurrent	77682000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Investments Noncurrent RestrictedCashAndInvestmentsNoncurrent	328591000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Investments Noncurrent RestrictedCashAndInvestmentsNoncurrent	318390000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	14462000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	14462000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Intangible Assets Net Excluding Goodwill IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill	69119000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Intangible Assets Net Excluding Goodwill IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill	74162000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Inventory Noncurrent InventoryNoncurrent	149157000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Noncurrent InventoryNoncurrent	130083000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Notes Receivable Related Parties Noncurrent NotesReceivableRelatedPartiesNoncurrent	0	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Notes Receivable Related Parties Noncurrent NotesReceivableRelatedPartiesNoncurrent	22832000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Other Assets Noncurrent OtherAssetsNoncurrent	248103000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Noncurrent OtherAssetsNoncurrent	98878000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Assets Assets	7137807000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Assets Assets	7121362000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Accounts Payable Current AccountsPayableCurrent	242541000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Payable Current AccountsPayableCurrent	233287000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Accrued Income Taxes Current AccruedIncomeTaxesCurrent	15293000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Income Taxes Current AccruedIncomeTaxesCurrent	20885000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Accrued Liabilities Current AccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	421595000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Liabilities Current AccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	441580000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations Current LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent	28312000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations Current LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent	5570000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Deferred Revenue Current DeferredRevenueCurrent	112237000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Revenue Current DeferredRevenueCurrent	129755000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Current OtherLiabilitiesCurrent	23341000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Current OtherLiabilitiesCurrent	14380000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Liabilities Current LiabilitiesCurrent	843319000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Current LiabilitiesCurrent	845457000	USD
CY2019Q2	fslr	Solar Module Collection And Recycling Liability SolarModuleCollectionAndRecyclingLiability	136275000	USD
CY2018Q4	fslr	Solar Module Collection And Recycling Liability SolarModuleCollectionAndRecyclingLiability	134442000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations	452976000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations	461221000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Noncurrent OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent	467839000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Liabilities Liabilities	2002683000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Liabilities	1908959000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Commitments And Contingencies CommitmentsAndContingencies		USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Noncurrent OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent	570113000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Commitments And Contingencies CommitmentsAndContingencies		USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Common Stock Value CommonStockValue	105000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Value CommonStockValue	105000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Additional Paid In Capital Common Stock AdditionalPaidInCapitalCommonStock	2826533000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Additional Paid In Capital Common Stock AdditionalPaidInCapitalCommonStock	2825211000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Retained Earnings Accumulated Deficit RetainedEarningsAccumulatedDeficit	2355406000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Retained Earnings Accumulated Deficit RetainedEarningsAccumulatedDeficit	2441553000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	-46920000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	-54466000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	5135124000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	5212403000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Liabilities And Stockholders Equity LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity	7137807000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities And Stockholders Equity LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity	7121362000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	5129161000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-18548000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent	12093000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Share Based Compensation StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensation	1672000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Adjustments Related To Tax Withholding For Share Based Compensation AdjustmentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation	68000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Sharebased Compensation Requisite Service Period Recognition Value AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue	10814000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	5135124000	USD
CY2018Q1	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	5159371000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-48491000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent	-11654000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Share Based Compensation StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensation	1709000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Adjustments Related To Tax Withholding For Share Based Compensation AdjustmentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation	114000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Sharebased Compensation Requisite Service Period Recognition Value AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue	10006000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	5110827000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	5212403000	USD
	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-86147000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent	7546000	USD
	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Share Based Compensation StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensation	1673000	USD
	us-gaap	Adjustments Related To Tax Withholding For Share Based Compensation AdjustmentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation	15732000	USD
	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Sharebased Compensation Requisite Service Period Recognition Value AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue	15381000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	5135124000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	5098697000	USD
	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	34460000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent	-32496000	USD
	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Share Based Compensation StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensation	1710000	USD
	us-gaap	Adjustments Related To Tax Withholding For Share Based Compensation AdjustmentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation	10251000	USD
	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Sharebased Compensation Requisite Service Period Recognition Value AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue	18707000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	5110827000	USD
	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-86147000	USD
	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	34460000	USD
	us-gaap	Depreciation Amortization And Accretion Net DepreciationAmortizationAndAccretionNet	98816000	USD
	us-gaap	Depreciation Amortization And Accretion Net DepreciationAmortizationAndAccretionNet	54764000	USD
	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	15782000	USD
	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	19236000	USD
	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	-270000	USD
	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	38338000	USD
	us-gaap	Equity Method Investment Dividends Or Distributions EquityMethodInvestmentDividendsOrDistributions	0	USD
	us-gaap	Equity Method Investment Dividends Or Distributions EquityMethodInvestmentDividendsOrDistributions	12394000	USD
	us-gaap	Foreign Currency Transaction Gain Loss Unrealized ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossUnrealized	917000	USD
	us-gaap	Foreign Currency Transaction Gain Loss Unrealized ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossUnrealized	-6178000	USD
	us-gaap	Deferred Income Taxes And Tax Credits DeferredIncomeTaxesAndTaxCredits	1508000	USD
	us-gaap	Deferred Income Taxes And Tax Credits DeferredIncomeTaxesAndTaxCredits	-49788000	USD
	us-gaap	Debt Securities Realized Gain Loss Excluding Other Than Temporary Impairment DebtSecuritiesRealizedGainLossExcludingOtherThanTemporaryImpairment	15016000	USD
	us-gaap	Debt Securities Realized Gain Loss Excluding Other Than Temporary Impairment DebtSecuritiesRealizedGainLossExcludingOtherThanTemporaryImpairment	19473000	USD
	fslr	Liabilitiesassumedbycustomersforthesaleofsystems Liabilitiesassumedbycustomersforthesaleofsystems	-88050000	USD
	fslr	Liabilitiesassumedbycustomersforthesaleofsystems Liabilitiesassumedbycustomersforthesaleofsystems	-60307000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Operating Activities Cash Flow Statement OtherOperatingActivitiesCashFlowStatement	1409000	USD
	us-gaap	Other Operating Activities Cash Flow Statement OtherOperatingActivitiesCashFlowStatement	4139000	USD
	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	-188300000	USD
	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	-81655000	USD
	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Prepaid Deferred Expense And Other Assets IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidDeferredExpenseAndOtherAssets	36553000	USD
	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Prepaid Deferred Expense And Other Assets IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidDeferredExpenseAndOtherAssets	27384000	USD
	fslr	Increase Decrease In Inventory And Bos Parts IncreaseDecreaseInInventoryAndBosParts	253028000	USD
	fslr	Increase Decrease In Inventory And Bos Parts IncreaseDecreaseInInventoryAndBosParts	112145000	USD
	fslr	Increase Decrease In Project Assets IncreaseDecreaseInProjectAssets	23572000	USD
	fslr	Increase Decrease In Project Assets IncreaseDecreaseInProjectAssets	1167000	USD
	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Assets IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingAssets	3231000	USD
	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Assets IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingAssets	7575000	USD
	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Income Taxes Payable Net Of Income Taxes Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInIncomeTaxesPayableNetOfIncomeTaxesReceivable	-22504000	USD
	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Income Taxes Payable Net Of Income Taxes Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInIncomeTaxesPayableNetOfIncomeTaxesReceivable	28562000	USD
	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayable	5505000	USD
	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayable	22627000	USD
	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accrued Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccruedLiabilities	-74393000	USD
	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accrued Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccruedLiabilities	134961000	USD
	fslr	Other Increase Decreasein Accrued Solar Module Collectionand Recycling Liability OtherIncreaseDecreaseinAccruedSolarModuleCollectionandRecyclingLiability	1951000	USD
	fslr	Other Increase Decreasein Accrued Solar Module Collectionand Recycling Liability OtherIncreaseDecreaseinAccruedSolarModuleCollectionandRecyclingLiability	1057000	USD
	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities	-289870000	USD
	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Available For Sale Securities Debt PaymentsToAcquireAvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebt	761633000	USD
	us-gaap	Proceeds From Maturities Prepayments And Calls Of Available For Sale Securities ProceedsFromMaturitiesPrepaymentsAndCallsOfAvailableForSaleSecurities	687951000	USD
	us-gaap	Proceeds From Maturities Prepayments And Calls Of Available For Sale Securities ProceedsFromMaturitiesPrepaymentsAndCallsOfAvailableForSaleSecurities	471444000	USD
	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Available For Sale Securities Debt PaymentsToAcquireAvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebt	380900000	USD
	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease Including Exchange Rate Effect CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecreaseIncludingExchangeRateEffect	-229055000	USD
	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities	83856000	USD
	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Property Plant And Equipment PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment	327836000	USD
	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Property Plant And Equipment PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment	372623000	USD
	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Equity Method Investments ProceedsFromSaleOfEquityMethodInvestments	0	USD
	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Equity Method Investments ProceedsFromSaleOfEquityMethodInvestments	247595000	USD
	us-gaap	Proceeds From Collection Of Advance To Affiliate ProceedsFromCollectionOfAdvanceToAffiliate	0	USD
	us-gaap	Proceeds From Collection Of Advance To Affiliate ProceedsFromCollectionOfAdvanceToAffiliate	48369000	USD
	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Other Investing Activities PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities	-2899000	USD
	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Other Investing Activities PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities	5973000	USD
	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	-17886000	USD
	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	-372821000	USD
	us-gaap	Repayments Of Debt And Capital Lease Obligations RepaymentsOfDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations	10583000	USD
	us-gaap	Repayments Of Debt And Capital Lease Obligations RepaymentsOfDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations	18140000	USD
	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Long Term Debt ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt	107396000	USD
	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Long Term Debt ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt	100198000	USD
	us-gaap	Payments Related To Tax Withholding For Share Based Compensation PaymentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation	15731000	USD
	us-gaap	Payments Related To Tax Withholding For Share Based Compensation PaymentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation	10251000	USD
	us-gaap	Proceeds From Payments For Other Financing Activities ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities	-363000	USD
	us-gaap	Proceeds From Payments For Other Financing Activities ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities	-1816000	USD
	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	80719000	USD
	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	69991000	USD
	us-gaap	Effect Of Exchange Rate On Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	-2018000	USD
	us-gaap	Effect Of Exchange Rate On Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	-13077000	USD
	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease Including Exchange Rate Effect CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecreaseIncludingExchangeRateEffect	-232051000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	1562623000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	2330476000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	1333568000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	2098425000	USD
	us-gaap	Capital Expenditures Incurred But Not Yet Paid CapitalExpendituresIncurredButNotYetPaid	148316000	USD
	us-gaap	Capital Expenditures Incurred But Not Yet Paid CapitalExpendituresIncurredButNotYetPaid	165670000	USD
	fslr	Saleofsystempreviouslyaccountedforassaleleasebackfinancing Saleofsystempreviouslyaccountedforassaleleasebackfinancing	0	USD
	fslr	Saleofsystempreviouslyaccountedforassaleleasebackfinancing Saleofsystempreviouslyaccountedforassaleleasebackfinancing	31992000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents Noncurrent RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent	139390000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	1221568000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	1403562000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Securities Current AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecuritiesCurrent	807561000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Securities Current AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecuritiesCurrent	1143704000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Investments And Cash InvestmentsAndCash	2029129000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Investments And Cash InvestmentsAndCash	2547266000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	1221568000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	1403562000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	16244000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	19671000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents Noncurrent RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent	95756000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Continuous Unrealized Loss Position12 Months Or Longer DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLonger	207152000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	1333568000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	1562623000	USD
	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Available For Sale Securities Debt ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebt	20000000.0	USD
	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Realized Gain DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleRealizedGain	0	USD
	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Available For Sale Securities Debt ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebt	10800000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Available For Sale Debt Securities Amortized Cost Basis AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAmortizedCostBasis	807715000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Available For Sale Debt Securities Accumulated Gross Unrealized Gain Before Tax AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax	625000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Available For Sale Debt Securities Accumulated Gross Unrealized Loss Before Tax AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax	779000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Securities Current AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecuritiesCurrent	807561000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Debt Securities Amortized Cost Basis AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAmortizedCostBasis	1145839000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Debt Securities Accumulated Gross Unrealized Gain Before Tax AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax	521000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Debt Securities Accumulated Gross Unrealized Loss Before Tax AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax	2656000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Securities Current AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecuritiesCurrent	1143704000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Continuous Unrealized Loss Position12 Months Or Longer Number Of Positions DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLongerNumberOfPositions	12	Investments
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Continuous Unrealized Loss Position12 Months Or Longer DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLonger	139700000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Continuous Unrealized Loss Position12 Months Or Longer Accumulated Loss DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLongerAccumulatedLoss	500000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Continuous Unrealized Loss Position12 Months Or Longer Number Of Positions DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLongerNumberOfPositions	15	Investments
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Continuous Unrealized Loss Position12 Months Or Longer DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLonger	207200000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Continuous Unrealized Loss Position12 Months Or Longer Accumulated Loss DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLongerAccumulatedLoss	1800000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Continuous Unrealized Loss Position Less Than12 Months DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThan12Months	137565000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Continuous Unrealized Loss Position Less Than12 Months Accumulated Loss DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThan12MonthsAccumulatedLoss	318000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Continuous Unrealized Loss Position12 Months Or Longer DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLonger	139737000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Continuous Unrealized Loss Position12 Months Or Longer Accumulated Loss DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLongerAccumulatedLoss	461000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Unrealized Loss Position DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleUnrealizedLossPosition	277302000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Unrealized Loss Position Accumulated Loss DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleUnrealizedLossPositionAccumulatedLoss	779000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Continuous Unrealized Loss Position Less Than12 Months DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThan12Months	166198000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Continuous Unrealized Loss Position Less Than12 Months Accumulated Loss DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThan12MonthsAccumulatedLoss	834000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Continuous Unrealized Loss Position12 Months Or Longer Accumulated Loss DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLongerAccumulatedLoss	1822000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Unrealized Loss Position DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleUnrealizedLossPosition	373350000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Unrealized Loss Position Accumulated Loss DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleUnrealizedLossPositionAccumulatedLoss	2656000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities Within One Year Amortized Cost AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesWithinOneYearAmortizedCost	479281000	USD
CY2019Q2	fslr	Debt Securities Availableforsale Maturities Rolling Year One Through Two DebtSecuritiesAvailableforsaleMaturitiesRollingYearOneThroughTwo	221396000	USD
CY2019Q2	fslr	Debt Securities Availableforsale Maturities Rolling Year Two Through Three DebtSecuritiesAvailableforsaleMaturitiesRollingYearTwoThroughThree	76804000	USD
CY2019Q2	fslr	Debt Securities Availableforsale Maturities Rolling Year Three Through Four DebtSecuritiesAvailableforsaleMaturitiesRollingYearThreeThroughFour	30080000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Securities Current AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecuritiesCurrent	807561000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable Current AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent	1362000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Net Current AccountsReceivableNetCurrent	269527000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Net Current AccountsReceivableNetCurrent	128282000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents Noncurrent RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent	95756000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents Noncurrent RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent	139390000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Restricted DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleRestricted	232835000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Restricted DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleRestricted	179000000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Investments Noncurrent RestrictedCashAndInvestmentsNoncurrent	328591000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Investments Noncurrent RestrictedCashAndInvestmentsNoncurrent	318390000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	16200000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	19700000	USD
	fslr	Product Minimum Service Life ProductMinimumServiceLife	P25Y
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Gross Current AccountsReceivableGrossCurrent	270862000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Gross Current AccountsReceivableGrossCurrent	129644000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable Current AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent	1335000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Prepaid Taxes PrepaidTaxes	71402000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Prepaid Taxes PrepaidTaxes	59319000	USD
CY2019Q2	fslr	Indirect Tax Receivables Current IndirectTaxReceivablesCurrent	37583000	USD
CY2018Q4	fslr	Indirect Tax Receivables Current IndirectTaxReceivablesCurrent	26327000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Prepaid Expense Current PrepaidExpenseCurrent	117375000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Prepaid Expense Current PrepaidExpenseCurrent	90981000	USD
CY2019Q2	fslr	Secured Accounts Receivable SecuredAccountsReceivable	49200000	USD
CY2018Q4	fslr	Secured Accounts Receivable SecuredAccountsReceivable	8500000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Unbilled Receivables Current UnbilledReceivablesCurrent	103171000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Unbilled Receivables Current UnbilledReceivablesCurrent	441666000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Contract Receivable Retainage ContractReceivableRetainage	24801000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Contract Receivable Retainage ContractReceivableRetainage	16500000	USD
CY2019Q2	fslr	Accounts Receivable Unbilledand Retainage AccountsReceivableUnbilledandRetainage	127972000	USD
CY2018Q4	fslr	Accounts Receivable Unbilledand Retainage AccountsReceivableUnbilledandRetainage	458166000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Inventory Raw Materials Net Of Reserves InventoryRawMaterialsNetOfReserves	241336000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Raw Materials Net Of Reserves InventoryRawMaterialsNetOfReserves	224329000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Inventory Work In Process Net Of Reserves InventoryWorkInProcessNetOfReserves	47743000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Work In Process Net Of Reserves InventoryWorkInProcessNetOfReserves	41294000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Inventory Finished Goods Net Of Reserves InventoryFinishedGoodsNetOfReserves	446699000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Finished Goods Net Of Reserves InventoryFinishedGoodsNetOfReserves	252372000	USD
CY2019Q2	fslr	Inventory Current And Noncurrent Net InventoryCurrentAndNoncurrentNet	735778000	USD
CY2018Q4	fslr	Inventory Current And Noncurrent Net InventoryCurrentAndNoncurrentNet	517995000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Inventory Net InventoryNet	586621000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Net InventoryNet	387912000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Inventory Noncurrent InventoryNoncurrent	149157000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Noncurrent InventoryNoncurrent	130083000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Notes And Loans Receivable Net Current NotesAndLoansReceivableNetCurrent	23911000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Notes And Loans Receivable Net Current NotesAndLoansReceivableNetCurrent	5196000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	16244000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	19671000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Derivative Assets Current DerivativeAssetsCurrent	1719000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Assets Current DerivativeAssetsCurrent	2364000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Other Assets Current OtherAssetsCurrent	37332000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Current OtherAssetsCurrent	39203000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Prepaid Expense And Other Assets Current PrepaidExpenseAndOtherAssetsCurrent	305566000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Prepaid Expense And Other Assets Current PrepaidExpenseAndOtherAssetsCurrent	243061000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	3350289000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	3041068000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	1343955000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	1284857000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	2006334000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	1756211000	USD
CY2019Q2	fslr	Pv Solar Power Systems Gross PVSolarPowerSystemsGross	346150000	USD
CY2018Q4	fslr	Pv Solar Power Systems Gross PVSolarPowerSystemsGross	343061000	USD
CY2019Q2	fslr	Accumulated Depreciation Pv Solar Power Systems AccumulatedDepreciationPVSolarPowerSystems	41493000	USD
CY2018Q4	fslr	Accumulated Depreciation Pv Solar Power Systems AccumulatedDepreciationPVSolarPowerSystems	34421000	USD
CY2019Q2	fslr	Pv Solar Power Systems Net PVSolarPowerSystemsNet	304657000	USD
CY2018Q4	fslr	Pv Solar Power Systems Net PVSolarPowerSystemsNet	308640000	USD
CY2019Q2	fslr	Project Assets Developmentand Land Costs ProjectAssetsDevelopmentandLandCosts	299592000	USD
CY2018Q4	fslr	Project Assets Developmentand Land Costs ProjectAssetsDevelopmentandLandCosts	298070000	USD
CY2019Q2	fslr	Project Assets Construction Costs ProjectAssetsConstructionCosts	230357000	USD
CY2018Q4	fslr	Project Assets Construction Costs ProjectAssetsConstructionCosts	200359000	USD
CY2019Q2	fslr	Total Project Assets Currentand Noncurrent TotalProjectAssetsCurrentandNoncurrent	529949000	USD
CY2018Q4	fslr	Total Project Assets Currentand Noncurrent TotalProjectAssetsCurrentandNoncurrent	498429000	USD
CY2019Q2	fslr	Project Assets Current ProjectAssetsCurrent	1703000	USD
CY2018Q4	fslr	Project Assets Current ProjectAssetsCurrent	37930000	USD
CY2019Q2	fslr	Project Assets Noncurrent ProjectAssetsNoncurrent	528246000	USD
CY2018Q4	fslr	Project Assets Noncurrent ProjectAssetsNoncurrent	460499000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Interest Costs Incurred InterestCostsIncurred	10161000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Interest Costs Incurred InterestCostsIncurred	7591000	USD
	us-gaap	Interest Costs Incurred InterestCostsIncurred	21109000	USD
	us-gaap	Interest Costs Incurred InterestCostsIncurred	14057000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	8921000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	6065000	USD
	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	19042000	USD
	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	11247000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Operating Lease Right Of Use Asset OperatingLeaseRightOfUseAsset	166512000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Right Of Use Asset OperatingLeaseRightOfUseAsset	0	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Notes And Loans Receivable Net Noncurrent NotesAndLoansReceivableNetNoncurrent	7968000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Notes And Loans Receivable Net Noncurrent NotesAndLoansReceivableNetNoncurrent	8017000	USD
CY2019Q2	fslr	Indirect Tax Receivables Noncurrent IndirectTaxReceivablesNoncurrent	8372000	USD
CY2018Q4	fslr	Indirect Tax Receivables Noncurrent IndirectTaxReceivablesNoncurrent	22487000	USD
CY2018Q4	fslr	Accrued Project Assets AccruedProjectAssets	147162000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Income Tax Receivable IncomeTaxReceivable	4444000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Income Tax Receivable IncomeTaxReceivable	4444000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Equity Method Investments EquityMethodInvestments	2833000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Equity Method Investments EquityMethodInvestments	3186000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Deferred Rent Receivables Net DeferredRentReceivablesNet	0	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Rent Receivables Net DeferredRentReceivablesNet	27249000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Other Assets Miscellaneous Noncurrent OtherAssetsMiscellaneousNoncurrent	57974000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Miscellaneous Noncurrent OtherAssetsMiscellaneousNoncurrent	33495000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Other Assets Noncurrent OtherAssetsNoncurrent	248103000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Noncurrent OtherAssetsNoncurrent	98878000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	14462000	USD
	us-gaap	Goodwill Period Increase Decrease GoodwillPeriodIncreaseDecrease	0	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	14462000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Gross FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross	111608000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Accumulated Amortization FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization	42489000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Intangible Assets Net Excluding Goodwill IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill	69119000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Gross FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross	111608000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Accumulated Amortization FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization	37446000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Intangible Assets Net Excluding Goodwill IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill	74162000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Amortization Of Intangible Assets AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	2500000	USD
	us-gaap	Amortization Of Intangible Assets AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	5000000.0	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Amortization Of Intangible Assets AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	2500000	USD
	us-gaap	Amortization Of Intangible Assets AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	4900000	USD
CY2019Q2	fslr	Accrued Project Assets AccruedProjectAssets	103286000	USD
CY2019Q2	fslr	Accrued Property Plant And Equipment AccruedPropertyPlantAndEquipment	96456000	USD
CY2018Q4	fslr	Accrued Property Plant And Equipment AccruedPropertyPlantAndEquipment	89905000	USD
CY2019Q2	fslr	Accrued Inventory AccruedInventory	56485000	USD
CY2018Q4	fslr	Accrued Inventory AccruedInventory	53075000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Product Warranty Accrual Classified Current ProductWarrantyAccrualClassifiedCurrent	41930000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Product Warranty Accrual Classified Current ProductWarrantyAccrualClassifiedCurrent	27657000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Employee Related Liabilities Current EmployeeRelatedLiabilitiesCurrent	41937000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Other Accrued Liabilities Current OtherAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	82344000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Employee Related Liabilities Current EmployeeRelatedLiabilitiesCurrent	41094000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Other Accrued Liabilities Current OtherAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	81844000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Accrued Liabilities Current AccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	421595000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Liabilities Current AccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	441580000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Current OperatingLeaseLiabilityCurrent	11525000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Current OperatingLeaseLiabilityCurrent	0	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Derivative Liabilities Current DerivativeLiabilitiesCurrent	5259000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Liabilities Current DerivativeLiabilitiesCurrent	7294000	USD
CY2019Q2	fslr	Contingent Consideration Liability Current ContingentConsiderationLiabilityCurrent	570000	USD
CY2018Q4	fslr	Contingent Consideration Liability Current ContingentConsiderationLiabilityCurrent	665000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Other Sundry Liabilities Current OtherSundryLiabilitiesCurrent	5987000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Other Sundry Liabilities Current OtherSundryLiabilitiesCurrent	6421000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Current OtherLiabilitiesCurrent	23341000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Current OtherLiabilitiesCurrent	14380000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Product Warranty Accrual Noncurrent ProductWarrantyAccrualNoncurrent	176061000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Product Warranty Accrual Noncurrent ProductWarrantyAccrualNoncurrent	193035000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Noncurrent OperatingLeaseLiabilityNoncurrent	131793000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Noncurrent OperatingLeaseLiabilityNoncurrent	0	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Accrued Income Taxes Noncurrent AccruedIncomeTaxesNoncurrent	85695000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Income Taxes Noncurrent AccruedIncomeTaxesNoncurrent	83058000	USD
CY2019Q2	fslr	Tax Cutsand Jobs Actof2017 Incomplete Accounting Transition Taxfor Accumulated Foreign Earnings Provisional Liability Noncurrent TaxCutsandJobsActof2017IncompleteAccountingTransitionTaxforAccumulatedForeignEarningsProvisionalLiabilityNoncurrent	68851000	USD
CY2018Q4	fslr	Tax Cutsand Jobs Actof2017 Incomplete Accounting Transition Taxfor Accumulated Foreign Earnings Provisional Liability Noncurrent TaxCutsandJobsActof2017IncompleteAccountingTransitionTaxforAccumulatedForeignEarningsProvisionalLiabilityNoncurrent	77016000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Deferred Revenue Noncurrent DeferredRevenueNoncurrent	45445000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Revenue Noncurrent DeferredRevenueNoncurrent	48014000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Derivative Liabilities Noncurrent DerivativeLiabilitiesNoncurrent	8650000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Liabilities Noncurrent DerivativeLiabilitiesNoncurrent	9205000	USD
CY2019Q2	fslr	Contingentconsiderationnoncurrent Contingentconsiderationnoncurrent	5250000	USD
CY2018Q4	fslr	Contingentconsiderationnoncurrent Contingentconsiderationnoncurrent	2250000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Other Sundry Liabilities Noncurrent OtherSundryLiabilitiesNoncurrent	48368000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Other Sundry Liabilities Noncurrent OtherSundryLiabilitiesNoncurrent	55261000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Noncurrent OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent	570113000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Noncurrent OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent	467839000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Operating Lease Cost OperatingLeaseCost	5536000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Remainder Of Fiscal Year LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsRemainderOfFiscalYear	8957000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Two LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearTwo	14502000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Three LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearThree	13723000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Four LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearFour	13328000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Five LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearFive	13078000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due After Year Five LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueAfterYearFive	154188000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDue	217776000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Carrying Amount DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount	492247000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Carrying Amount DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount	479157000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Unamortized Discount Premium And Debt Issuance Costs Net DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscountPremiumAndDebtIssuanceCostsNet	10959000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Unamortized Discount Premium And Debt Issuance Costs Net DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscountPremiumAndDebtIssuanceCostsNet	12366000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Debt Longterm And Shortterm Combined Amount DebtLongtermAndShorttermCombinedAmount	481288000	USD
	us-gaap	Operating Lease Cost OperatingLeaseCost	10819000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Variable Lease Cost VariableLeaseCost	939000	USD
	us-gaap	Variable Lease Cost VariableLeaseCost	1688000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Short Term Lease Cost ShortTermLeaseCost	2858000	USD
	us-gaap	Short Term Lease Cost ShortTermLeaseCost	5700000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Lease Cost LeaseCost	9333000	USD
	us-gaap	Lease Cost LeaseCost	18207000	USD
	us-gaap	Operating Lease Payments OperatingLeasePayments	10632000	USD
	us-gaap	Right Of Use Asset Obtained In Exchange For Operating Lease Liability RightOfUseAssetObtainedInExchangeForOperatingLeaseLiability	151081000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Operating Lease Right Of Use Asset OperatingLeaseRightOfUseAsset	166512000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Current OperatingLeaseLiabilityCurrent	11525000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Noncurrent OperatingLeaseLiabilityNoncurrent	131793000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Operating Lease Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term1 OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageRemainingLeaseTerm1	P18Y
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Operating Lease Weighted Average Discount Rate Percent OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageDiscountRatePercent	0.047	pure
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Undiscounted Excess Amount LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityUndiscountedExcessAmount	74458000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability OperatingLeaseLiability	143318000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Debt Longterm And Shortterm Combined Amount DebtLongtermAndShorttermCombinedAmount	466791000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations Current LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent	28312000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations Current LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent	5570000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations	452976000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations	461221000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal Remainder Of Fiscal Year LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalRemainderOfFiscalYear	8436000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Two LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearTwo	29130000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Three LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearThree	80497000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Four LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearFour	15884000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Five LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearFive	18131000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal After Year Five LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalAfterYearFive	340169000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Long Term Debt LongTermDebt	492247000	USD
CY2019Q2	fslr	Surety Bonds SuretyBonds	68900000	USD
CY2019Q2	fslr	Surety Bond Capacity SuretyBondCapacity	647300000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual StandardProductWarrantyAccrual	217241000	USD
CY2018Q1	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual StandardProductWarrantyAccrual	225800000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual StandardProductWarrantyAccrual	220692000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual StandardProductWarrantyAccrual	224274000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Product Warranty Accrual Warranties Issued ProductWarrantyAccrualWarrantiesIssued	4797000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Product Warranty Accrual Warranties Issued ProductWarrantyAccrualWarrantiesIssued	1836000	USD
	us-gaap	Product Warranty Accrual Warranties Issued ProductWarrantyAccrualWarrantiesIssued	9913000	USD
	us-gaap	Product Warranty Accrual Warranties Issued ProductWarrantyAccrualWarrantiesIssued	5468000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Payments StandardProductWarrantyAccrualPayments	2944000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Payments StandardProductWarrantyAccrualPayments	2472000	USD
	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Payments StandardProductWarrantyAccrualPayments	6022000	USD
	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Payments StandardProductWarrantyAccrualPayments	5081000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Preexisting Increase Decrease StandardProductWarrantyAccrualPreexistingIncreaseDecrease	-1103000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Preexisting Increase Decrease StandardProductWarrantyAccrualPreexistingIncreaseDecrease	649000	USD
	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Preexisting Increase Decrease StandardProductWarrantyAccrualPreexistingIncreaseDecrease	-6592000	USD
	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Preexisting Increase Decrease StandardProductWarrantyAccrualPreexistingIncreaseDecrease	1152000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual StandardProductWarrantyAccrual	217991000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual StandardProductWarrantyAccrual	225813000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual StandardProductWarrantyAccrual	217991000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual StandardProductWarrantyAccrual	225813000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Current StandardProductWarrantyAccrualCurrent	41930000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Current StandardProductWarrantyAccrualCurrent	32241000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Current StandardProductWarrantyAccrualCurrent	41930000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Current StandardProductWarrantyAccrualCurrent	32241000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Noncurrent StandardProductWarrantyAccrualNoncurrent	176061000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Noncurrent StandardProductWarrantyAccrualNoncurrent	193572000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Noncurrent StandardProductWarrantyAccrualNoncurrent	176061000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Noncurrent StandardProductWarrantyAccrualNoncurrent	193572000	USD
CY2019Q2	fslr	Percentage Point Changein Estimated Rateof Returnof Module Warranty PercentagePointChangeinEstimatedRateofReturnofModuleWarranty	0.01	pure
CY2019Q2	fslr	Estimated Changein Module Warrantyfrom Sensitivity Analysis EstimatedChangeinModuleWarrantyfromSensitivityAnalysis	79500000	USD
CY2019Q2	fslr	Percentage Point Changein Estimated Rateof Returnof Balanceof Systems Warranty PercentagePointChangeinEstimatedRateofReturnofBalanceofSystemsWarranty	0.01	pure
CY2019Q2	fslr	Energy Performance Testing Liability EnergyPerformanceTestingLiability	3000000.0	USD
CY2018Q4	fslr	Energy Performance Testing Liability EnergyPerformanceTestingLiability	400000	USD
CY2019Q2	fslr	Guarantor Obligations Carrying Value Non Current GuarantorObligationsCarryingValueNonCurrent	3000000.0	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Guarantee Obligations Maximum Exposure GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposure	133800000	USD
CY2019Q2	fslr	Percentageincreaseinannualizedinflationrate Percentageincreaseinannualizedinflationrate	0.01	pure
CY2019Q2	fslr	Estimated Increasein Solar Module Collection Recycling Liabilityfrom Sensitivity Analysis EstimatedIncreaseinSolarModuleCollectionRecyclingLiabilityfromSensitivityAnalysis	21400000	USD
CY2019Q2	fslr	Percentagedecreaseinannualizedinflationrate Percentagedecreaseinannualizedinflationrate	0.01	pure
CY2019Q2	fslr	Estimated Decreasein Solar Module Collection Recycling Liabilityfrom Sensitivity Analysis EstimatedDecreaseinSolarModuleCollectionRecyclingLiabilityfromSensitivityAnalysis	22000000.0	USD
CY2019Q2	fslr	Guarantor Obligations Potential Insurance Recoveries GuarantorObligationsPotentialInsuranceRecoveries	84900000	USD
CY2019Q2	fslr	Project Acquisition Contingent Consideration Liability Current ProjectAcquisitionContingentConsiderationLiabilityCurrent	600000	USD
CY2018Q4	fslr	Project Acquisition Contingent Consideration Liability Current ProjectAcquisitionContingentConsiderationLiabilityCurrent	700000	USD
CY2019Q2	fslr	Project Acquisition Contingent Consideration Liability Noncurrent ProjectAcquisitionContingentConsiderationLiabilityNoncurrent	5300000	USD
CY2018Q4	fslr	Project Acquisition Contingent Consideration Liability Noncurrent ProjectAcquisitionContingentConsiderationLiabilityNoncurrent	2300000	USD
CY2019Q2	fslr	Solar Module Collection And Recycling Liability SolarModuleCollectionAndRecyclingLiability	136300000	USD
CY2018Q4	fslr	Solar Module Collection And Recycling Liability SolarModuleCollectionAndRecyclingLiability	134400000	USD
CY2019Q2	fslr	Net Changein Estimateasa Percentageof Aggregate Revenuefor Associated Projects NetChangeinEstimateasaPercentageofAggregateRevenueforAssociatedProjects	-0.004	pure
CY2018Q2	fslr	Net Changein Estimateasa Percentageof Aggregate Revenuefor Associated Projects NetChangeinEstimateasaPercentageofAggregateRevenueforAssociatedProjects	-0.019	pure
	fslr	Net Changein Estimateasa Percentageof Aggregate Revenuefor Associated Projects NetChangeinEstimateasaPercentageofAggregateRevenueforAssociatedProjects	-0.007	pure
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	584956000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	309318000	USD
	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	1116934000	USD
	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	876583000	USD
	fslr	Project Changein Estimate Disclosure Threshold ProjectChangeinEstimateDisclosureThreshold	1000000.0	USD
CY2019Q2	fslr	Numberof Projectswith Changesin Estimates NumberofProjectswithChangesinEstimates	3	Projects
CY2018Q2	fslr	Numberof Projectswith Changesin Estimates NumberofProjectswithChangesinEstimates	1	Projects
	fslr	Numberof Projectswith Changesin Estimates NumberofProjectswithChangesinEstimates	5	Projects
	fslr	Numberof Projectswith Changesin Estimates NumberofProjectswithChangesinEstimates	23	Projects
CY2019Q2	fslr	Increase Decreasein Revenuefrom Net Changesin Transaction Price IncreaseDecreaseinRevenuefromNetChangesinTransactionPrice	-4064000	USD
CY2018Q2	fslr	Increase Decreasein Revenuefrom Net Changesin Transaction Price IncreaseDecreaseinRevenuefromNetChangesinTransactionPrice	-4513000	USD
	fslr	Increase Decreasein Revenuefrom Net Changesin Transaction Price IncreaseDecreaseinRevenuefromNetChangesinTransactionPrice	4697000	USD
	fslr	Increase Decreasein Revenuefrom Net Changesin Transaction Price IncreaseDecreaseinRevenuefromNetChangesinTransactionPrice	48277000	USD
CY2019Q2	fslr	Increase Decreasein Revenuefrom Net Changesin Input Cost Estimates IncreaseDecreaseinRevenuefromNetChangesinInputCostEstimates	-1749000	USD
CY2018Q2	fslr	Increase Decreasein Revenuefrom Net Changesin Input Cost Estimates IncreaseDecreaseinRevenuefromNetChangesinInputCostEstimates	-12160000	USD
	fslr	Increase Decreasein Revenuefrom Net Changesin Input Cost Estimates IncreaseDecreaseinRevenuefromNetChangesinInputCostEstimates	-16736000	USD
	fslr	Increase Decreasein Revenuefrom Net Changesin Input Cost Estimates IncreaseDecreaseinRevenuefromNetChangesinInputCostEstimates	-10281000	USD
CY2019Q2	fslr	Increase Decreasein Revenuefrom Net Changesin Estimates IncreaseDecreaseinRevenuefromNetChangesinEstimates	-5813000	USD
CY2018Q2	fslr	Increase Decreasein Revenuefrom Net Changesin Estimates IncreaseDecreaseinRevenuefromNetChangesinEstimates	-16673000	USD
	fslr	Increase Decreasein Revenuefrom Net Changesin Estimates IncreaseDecreaseinRevenuefromNetChangesinEstimates	-12039000	USD
	fslr	Increase Decreasein Revenuefrom Net Changesin Estimates IncreaseDecreaseinRevenuefromNetChangesinEstimates	37996000	USD
	fslr	Net Changein Estimateasa Percentageof Aggregate Revenuefor Associated Projects NetChangeinEstimateasaPercentageofAggregateRevenueforAssociatedProjects	0.004	pure
	fslr	Increase Decreasein Revenuefrom Net Changesin Indirect Tax Estimates IncreaseDecreaseinRevenuefromNetChangesinIndirectTaxEstimates	54600000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Unbilled Receivables Current UnbilledReceivablesCurrent	103171000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Unbilled Receivables Current UnbilledReceivablesCurrent	441666000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Contract Receivable Retainage ContractReceivableRetainage	24801000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Contract Receivable Retainage ContractReceivableRetainage	16500000	USD
CY2019Q2	fslr	Accounts Receivable Unbilledand Retainage AccountsReceivableUnbilledandRetainage	127972000	USD
CY2018Q4	fslr	Accounts Receivable Unbilledand Retainage AccountsReceivableUnbilledandRetainage	458166000	USD
	fslr	Contract Asset Net Change ContractAssetNetChange	-330194000	USD
	fslr	Contract Asset Percent Change ContractAssetPercentChange	-0.72	pure
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Deferred Revenue DeferredRevenue	157682000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Revenue DeferredRevenue	177769000	USD
	fslr	Contract Liability Net Change ContractLiabilityNetChange	-20087000	USD
	fslr	Contract Liability Percent Change ContractLiabilityPercentChange	-0.11	pure
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Deferred Revenue Noncurrent DeferredRevenueNoncurrent	45400000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Revenue Noncurrent DeferredRevenueNoncurrent	48000000.0	USD
	fslr	Contract Asset Net Change ContractAssetNetChange	-330200000	USD
	fslr	Contract Liability Net Change ContractLiabilityNetChange	-20100000	USD
	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Liability Revenue Recognized ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRevenueRecognized	69800000	USD
	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Liability Revenue Recognized ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRevenueRecognized	55000000.0	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	10763000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	10584000	USD
	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	15782000	USD
	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	19236000	USD
CY2019Q2	fslr	Allocated Sharebased Compensation Expense Gross AllocatedSharebasedCompensationExpenseGross	10814000	USD
CY2018Q2	fslr	Allocated Sharebased Compensation Expense Gross AllocatedSharebasedCompensationExpenseGross	10007000	USD
	fslr	Allocated Sharebased Compensation Expense Gross AllocatedSharebasedCompensationExpenseGross	15381000	USD
	fslr	Allocated Sharebased Compensation Expense Gross AllocatedSharebasedCompensationExpenseGross	18872000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Allocation Of Recognized Period Costs Capitalized Amount EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsCapitalizedAmount	-51000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Allocation Of Recognized Period Costs Capitalized Amount EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsCapitalizedAmount	577000	USD
	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Allocation Of Recognized Period Costs Capitalized Amount EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsCapitalizedAmount	401000	USD
	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Allocation Of Recognized Period Costs Capitalized Amount EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationAllocationOfRecognizedPeriodCostsCapitalizedAmount	364000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	10763000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	10584000	USD
	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	15782000	USD
	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	19236000	USD
CY2019Q2	fslr	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Capitalized In Inventory EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationCapitalizedInInventory	1400000	USD
CY2018Q4	fslr	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Capitalized In Inventory EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationCapitalizedInInventory	1800000	USD
	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Continuing Operations EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations	-0.137	pure
	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Continuing Operations EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations	3.450	pure
	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	0.21	pure
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-18548000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-48491000	USD
	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-86147000	USD
	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	34460000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	105369000	shares
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	104776000	shares
	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	105208000	shares
	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	104664000	shares
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	105369000	shares
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Reclassification From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Current Period Before Tax ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodBeforeTax	2395000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Reclassification From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Current Period Before Tax ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodBeforeTax	-1741000	USD
	us-gaap	Reclassification From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Current Period Before Tax ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodBeforeTax	17411000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	104776000	shares
	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	105208000	shares
	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	104664000	shares
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment WeightedAverageNumberDilutedSharesOutstandingAdjustment	0	shares
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment WeightedAverageNumberDilutedSharesOutstandingAdjustment	0	shares
	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment WeightedAverageNumberDilutedSharesOutstandingAdjustment	0	shares
	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment WeightedAverageNumberDilutedSharesOutstandingAdjustment	1570000	shares
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	105369000	shares
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	104776000	shares
	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	105208000	shares
	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	106234000	shares
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	-0.18
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	-0.46
	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	-0.82
	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.33
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	-0.18
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	-0.46
	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	-0.82
	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.32
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount	667000	shares
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount	1943000	shares
	us-gaap	Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount	766000	shares
	us-gaap	Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount	290000	shares
	us-gaap	Reclassification From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Current Period Before Tax ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodBeforeTax	17729000	USD
	us-gaap	Number Of Reportable Segments NumberOfReportableSegments	2	segments
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	584956000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	309318000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	77182000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	-8058000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Cost Depreciation Amortization And Depletion CostDepreciationAmortizationAndDepletion	45169000	USD
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Cost Depreciation Amortization And Depletion CostDepreciationAmortizationAndDepletion	22831000	USD
	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	1116934000	USD
	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	876583000	USD
	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	77294000	USD
	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	164740000	USD
	us-gaap	Cost Depreciation Amortization And Depletion CostDepreciationAmortizationAndDepletion	88963000	USD
	us-gaap	Cost Depreciation Amortization And Depletion CostDepreciationAmortizationAndDepletion	37358000	USD
CY2019Q2	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	14462000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	14462000	USD

Files In Submission

Name	View Source	Status
0001274494-19-000032-index-headers.html	Edgar Link	pending
0001274494-19-000032-index.html	Edgar Link	pending
0001274494-19-000032.txt	Edgar Link	pending
0001274494-19-000032-xbrl.zip	Edgar Link	pending
ex3101ceocertification.htm	Edgar Link	pending
ex3102cfocertification.htm	Edgar Link	pending
ex3201ceocfocertificat.htm	Edgar Link	pending
FilingSummary.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
Financial_Report.xlsx	Edgar Link	pending
fslr-20190630.xsd	Edgar Link	pending
fslr-20190630_cal.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
fslr-20190630_def.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
fslr-20190630_lab.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
fslr-20190630_pre.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
fslr10-q06x30x2019.htm	Edgar Link	pending
fslr10-q06x30x2019_htm.xml	Edgar Link	completed
fslrlogoa23.jpg	Edgar Link	pending
MetaLinks.json	Edgar Link	pending
R1.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R10.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R11.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R12.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R13.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R14.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R15.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R16.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R17.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R18.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R19.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R2.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R20.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R21.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R22.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R23.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R24.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R25.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R26.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R27.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R28.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R29.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R3.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R30.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R31.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R32.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R33.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R34.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R35.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R36.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R37.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R38.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R39.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R4.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R40.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R41.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R42.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R43.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R44.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R45.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R46.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R47.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R48.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R49.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R5.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R50.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R51.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R52.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R53.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R54.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R55.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R56.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R57.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R58.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R59.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R6.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R60.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R61.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R62.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R7.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R8.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R9.htm	Edgar Link	pending
report.css	Edgar Link	pending
Show.js	Edgar Link	pending

Create your account

Find Stocks Worth Researching

Deeply Understand Businesses

Value Businesses Intelligently

$FSLR
First Solar Inc Stock $fslr

2019 Q2 Form 10-Q Financial Statement

#000127449419000032 Filed on August 02, 2019

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cashflow Statement

Facts In Submission

Files In Submission

$FSLR First Solar Inc Stock $fslr

2019 Q2 Form 10-Q Financial Statement

#000127449419000032 Filed on August 02, 2019

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cashflow Statement

Facts In Submission

Files In Submission

$FSLR
First Solar Inc Stock $fslr