$FSLR
First Solar Inc Stock $fslr

$fslr Overview Financials Valuation SEC Filings Company Website

2018 Q4 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000127449420000011 Filed on February 21, 2020

Income Statement

Concept	2018 Q4	2017 Q4	2017
Revenue	$691.2M	$339.2M	$2.941B
YoY Change	103.77%	2.54%	1.27%
Cost Of Revenue	$592.9M	$277.1M	$2.392B
YoY Change	113.97%	-14.18%	5.57%
Gross Profit	$98.30M	$62.10M	$548.9M
YoY Change	58.29%	696.15%	-14.01%
Gross Profit Margin	14.22%	18.31%	18.66%
Selling, General & Admin	$65.90M	$75.50M	$202.7M
YoY Change	-12.72%	6.94%	-22.63%
% of Gross Profit	67.04%	121.58%	36.93%
Research & Development	$21.40M	$23.60M	$88.57M
YoY Change	-9.32%	-20.0%	-29.01%
% of Gross Profit	21.77%	38.0%	16.14%
Depreciation & Amortization	$41.50M	$25.70M	$91.90M
YoY Change	61.48%	-56.22%	-55.01%
% of Gross Profit	42.22%	41.38%	16.74%
Operating Expenses	$87.30M	$99.10M	$371.1M
YoY Change	-11.91%	-1.0%	-69.24%
Operating Profit	$11.00M	-$37.00M	$177.9M
YoY Change	-129.73%	-59.91%	-131.3%
Interest Expense	$5.600M	$4.400M	$25.77M
YoY Change	27.27%	-269.23%	25.45%
% of Operating Profit	50.91%		14.49%
Other Income/Expense, Net	$31.60M	-$1.800M	$23.97M
YoY Change	-1855.56%	-78.82%	-40.46%
Pretax Income	$48.20M	-$32.50M	-$22.87M
YoY Change	-248.31%	-96.09%	-94.64%
Income Tax	$6.000M	-$9.300M	$372.0M
% Of Pretax Income	12.45%
Net Earnings	$52.10M	-$432.5M	-$165.6M
YoY Change	-112.05%	-42.39%	-60.2%
Net Earnings / Revenue	7.54%	-127.51%	-5.63%
Basic Earnings Per Share			-$1.59
Diluted Earnings Per Share	$492.4K	-$4.139M	-$1.59
COMMON SHARES
Basic Shares Outstanding	104.8M shares	104.4M shares	104.3M shares
Diluted Shares Outstanding			104.3M shares

Balance Sheet

Concept	2018 Q4	2017 Q4	2017
SHORT-TERM ASSETS
Cash & Short-Term Investments	$2.547B	$2.989B	$2.989B
YoY Change	-14.78%	52.88%	52.88%
Cash & Equivalents	$1.404B	$2.269B	$2.269B
Short-Term Investments	$1.144B	$720.4M	$720.4M
Other Short-Term Assets	$39.20M	$42.54M	$252.5M
YoY Change	-7.83%	-42.97%	-73.66%
Inventory	$387.9M	$172.4M	$172.4M
Prepaid Expenses	$90.98M	$41.45M
Receivables	$128.3M	$211.8M	$386.4M
Other Receivables	$26.40M	$32.60M	$32.60M
Total Short-Term Assets	$3.860B	$3.833B	$3.833B
YoY Change	0.7%	1.19%	1.19%
LONG-TERM ASSETS
Property, Plant & Equipment	$1.756B	$1.155B	$1.572B
YoY Change	52.11%	83.51%	45.83%
Goodwill	$14.46M	$14.46M
YoY Change	0.0%	0.0%
Intangibles	$74.16M	$80.23M
YoY Change	-7.56%	-8.8%
Long-Term Investments	$3.186M	$217.2M	$219.5M
YoY Change	-98.53%	-6.5%	-6.44%
Other Assets	$98.88M	$85.53M	$1.083B
YoY Change	15.6%	9.8%	-30.4%
Total Long-Term Assets	$3.262B	$3.032B	$3.032B
YoY Change	7.59%	-0.16%	-0.16%
TOTAL ASSETS
Total Short-Term Assets	$3.860B	$3.833B	$3.833B
Total Long-Term Assets	$3.262B	$3.032B	$3.032B
Total Assets	$7.121B	$6.865B	$6.865B
YoY Change	3.74%	0.59%	0.59%
SHORT-TERM LIABILITIES
YoY Change
Accounts Payable	$233.3M	$120.2M	$120.2M
YoY Change	94.05%	-19.17%	-19.17%
Accrued Expenses	$441.6M	$366.8M	$338.1M
YoY Change	20.38%	39.49%	51.68%
Deferred Revenue
YoY Change
Short-Term Debt	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
YoY Change
Long-Term Debt Due	$5.600M	$13.10M	$13.10M
YoY Change	-57.25%	-53.21%	-53.21%
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$845.5M	$650.3M	$650.3M
YoY Change	30.02%	-28.37%	-28.37%
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
Long-Term Debt	$461.2M	$423.9M	$423.9M
YoY Change	8.8%	126.68%	126.68%
Other Long-Term Liabilities	$467.8M	$568.5M	$691.7M
YoY Change	-17.7%	53.04%	35.34%
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$467.8M	$568.5M	$1.116B
YoY Change	-17.7%	53.04%	59.81%
TOTAL LIABILITIES
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$845.5M	$650.3M	$650.3M
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$467.8M	$568.5M	$1.116B
Total Liabilities	$1.909B	$1.766B	$1.766B
YoY Change	8.11%	9.95%	9.95%
SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY
Retained Earnings	$2.442B	$2.297B
YoY Change	6.28%	-6.72%
Common Stock	$2.825B	$2.799B
YoY Change	0.93%	1.22%
Preferred Stock
YoY Change
Treasury Stock (at cost)
YoY Change
Treasury Stock Shares
Shareholders Equity	$5.212B	$5.099B	$5.099B
YoY Change
Total Liabilities & Shareholders Equity	$7.121B	$6.865B	$6.865B
YoY Change	3.74%	0.59%	0.59%

Cashflow Statement

Concept	2018 Q4	2017 Q4	2017
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net Income	$52.10M	-$432.5M	-$165.6M
YoY Change	-112.05%	-42.39%	-60.2%
Depreciation, Depletion And Amortization	$41.50M	$25.70M	$91.90M
YoY Change	61.48%	-56.22%	-55.01%
Cash From Operating Activities	-$185.5M	$434.0M	$1.341B
YoY Change	-142.74%	61.64%	548.44%
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital Expenditures	-$129.2M	-$199.3M	$514.4M
YoY Change	-35.17%	271.83%	124.17%
Acquisitions
YoY Change
Other Investing Activities	$242.2M	-$23.60M	-$477.0K
YoY Change	-1126.27%	-106.52%	-102.03%
Cash From Investing Activities	$113.0M	-$222.8M	-$626.8M
YoY Change	-150.72%	-172.27%	-533.71%
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Cash Dividend Paid
YoY Change
Common Stock Issuance & Retirement, Net
YoY Change
Debt Paid & Issued, Net
YoY Change
Cash From Financing Activities	112.0M	40.40M	$192.0M
YoY Change	177.23%	-106.75%	-240.8%
NET CHANGE
Cash From Operating Activities	-185.5M	434.0M	$1.341B
Cash From Investing Activities	113.0M	-222.8M	-$626.8M
Cash From Financing Activities	112.0M	40.40M	$192.0M
Net Change In Cash	39.50M	251.6M	$914.8M
YoY Change	-84.3%	-1248.86%	338.59%
FREE CASH FLOW
Cash From Operating Activities	-$185.5M	$434.0M	$1.341B
Capital Expenditures	-$129.2M	-$199.3M	$514.4M
Free Cash Flow	-$56.30M	$633.3M	$826.3M
YoY Change	-108.89%	96.62%	-3740.34%

Facts In Submission

Frame	Concept Type	Concept / XBRL Key	Value	Unit
CY2019	dei	Amendment Flag AmendmentFlag	false
CY2019	dei	Current Fiscal Year End Date CurrentFiscalYearEndDate	--12-31
CY2019	dei	Document Fiscal Period Focus DocumentFiscalPeriodFocus	FY
CY2019	dei	Document Fiscal Year Focus DocumentFiscalYearFocus	2019
CY2019	dei	Entity Central Index Key EntityCentralIndexKey	0001274494
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	500000000	shares
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Outstanding CommonStockSharesOutstanding	104885261	shares
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare	0.001
CY2019	dei	Entity Address City Or Town EntityAddressCityOrTown	Tempe
CY2017	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Holding Gain Loss On Securities Arising During Period Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodTax	588000	USD
CY2019	dei	Entity Address State Or Province EntityAddressStateOrProvince	AZ
CY2019	dei	Entity Address Postal Zip Code EntityAddressPostalZipCode	85281
CY2019	dei	City Area Code CityAreaCode	602
CY2018	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Holding Gain Loss On Securities Arising During Period Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodTax	-3735000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Holding Gain Loss On Securities Arising During Period Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodTax	-3046000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share PreferredStockParOrStatedValuePerShare	0.001
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Authorized PreferredStockSharesAuthorized	30000000	shares
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Net InventoryNet	387912000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Outstanding CommonStockSharesOutstanding	105448921	shares
CY2017	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss On Derivatives Arising During Period Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodTax	-1396000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss On Derivatives Arising During Period Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodTax	996000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss On Derivatives Arising During Period Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodTax	-142000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Issued PreferredStockSharesIssued	0	shares
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Outstanding PreferredStockSharesOutstanding	0	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Outstanding PreferredStockSharesOutstanding	0	shares
CY2019	dei	Document Type DocumentType	10-K
CY2019	dei	Document Annual Report DocumentAnnualReport	true
CY2019	dei	Document Period End Date DocumentPeriodEndDate	2019-12-31
CY2019	dei	Document Transition Report DocumentTransitionReport	false
CY2019	dei	Entity File Number EntityFileNumber	001-33156
CY2019	dei	Entity Registrant Name EntityRegistrantName	First Solar, Inc.
CY2019	dei	Entity Incorporation State Country Code EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode	DE
CY2019	dei	Entity Tax Identification Number EntityTaxIdentificationNumber	20-4623678
CY2019	dei	Entity Address Address Line1 EntityAddressAddressLine1	350 West Washington Street, Suite 600
CY2019	dei	Local Phone Number LocalPhoneNumber	414-9300
CY2019	dei	Security12b Title Security12bTitle	Common stock, $0.001 par value
CY2019	dei	Trading Symbol TradingSymbol	FSLR
CY2019	dei	Security Exchange Name SecurityExchangeName	NASDAQ
CY2019	dei	Entity Well Known Seasoned Issuer EntityWellKnownSeasonedIssuer	Yes
CY2019	dei	Entity Voluntary Filers EntityVoluntaryFilers	No
CY2019	dei	Entity Current Reporting Status EntityCurrentReportingStatus	Yes
CY2019	dei	Entity Interactive Data Current EntityInteractiveDataCurrent	Yes
CY2019	dei	Entity Filer Category EntityFilerCategory	Large Accelerated Filer
CY2019	dei	Entity Small Business EntitySmallBusiness	false
CY2019	dei	Entity Emerging Growth Company EntityEmergingGrowthCompany	false
CY2019	dei	Entity Shell Company EntityShellCompany	false
CY2019Q2	dei	Entity Public Float EntityPublicFloat	5400000000	USD
CY2020Q1	dei	Entity Common Stock Shares Outstanding EntityCommonStockSharesOutstanding	105457669	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	1352741000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	1403562000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Securities Current AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecuritiesCurrent	811506000	USD
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CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Net Current AccountsReceivableNetCurrent	475039000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Net Current AccountsReceivableNetCurrent	128282000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Accounts Receivable Unbilledand Retainage AccountsReceivableUnbilledandRetainage	183473000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Inventory For Long Term Contracts Or Programs InventoryForLongTermContractsOrPrograms	53583000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Inventory For Long Term Contracts Or Programs InventoryForLongTermContractsOrPrograms	56906000	USD
CY2018Q4	fslr	Accounts Receivable Unbilledand Retainage AccountsReceivableUnbilledandRetainage	458166000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Net InventoryNet	443513000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Project Assets Current ProjectAssetsCurrent	3524000	USD
CY2018Q4	fslr	Project Assets Current ProjectAssetsCurrent	37930000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Prepaid Expense And Other Assets Current PrepaidExpenseAndOtherAssetsCurrent	276455000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Prepaid Expense And Other Assets Current PrepaidExpenseAndOtherAssetsCurrent	243061000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Assets Current AssetsCurrent	3599834000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Assets Current AssetsCurrent	3859523000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	2181149000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	1756211000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Pv Solar Power Systems Net PVSolarPowerSystemsNet	476977000	USD
CY2018Q4	fslr	Pv Solar Power Systems Net PVSolarPowerSystemsNet	308640000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Project Assets Noncurrent ProjectAssetsNoncurrent	333596000	USD
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CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Noncurrent InventoryNoncurrent	160646000	USD
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CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Notes Receivable Related Parties Noncurrent NotesReceivableRelatedPartiesNoncurrent	0	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Notes Receivable Related Parties Noncurrent NotesReceivableRelatedPartiesNoncurrent	22832000	USD
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CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations Current LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent	5570000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Revenue Current DeferredRevenueCurrent	323217000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Revenue Current DeferredRevenueCurrent	129755000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Litigation Reserve Current LitigationReserveCurrent	363000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Litigation Reserve Current LitigationReserveCurrent	0	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Current OtherLiabilitiesCurrent	28130000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Current LiabilitiesCurrent	845457000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Solar Module Collection And Recycling Liability SolarModuleCollectionAndRecyclingLiability	137761000	USD
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CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Current LiabilitiesCurrent	1318208000	USD
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CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Liabilities	2418922000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Liabilities	1908959000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Commitments And Contingencies CommitmentsAndContingencies		USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Commitments And Contingencies CommitmentsAndContingencies		USD
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CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-5480000	USD
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CY2017	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	371996000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	-284000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	34620000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	4266000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-114933000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	144326000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-165615000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	-1.09
CY2018	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	1.38
CY2017	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	-1.59
CY2019	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	-1.09
CY2018	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	1.36
CY2017	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	-1.59
CY2019	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	105310000	shares
CY2018	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	104745000	shares
CY2017	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	104328000	shares
CY2019	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	105310000	shares
CY2018	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	106113000	shares
CY2017	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	104328000	shares
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-114933000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	144326000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-165615000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax	-7049000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax	-1034000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax	11832000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax	-15670000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax	-57747000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax	3217000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Derivatives Qualifying As Hedges Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeDerivativesQualifyingAsHedgesNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent	-2149000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Derivatives Qualifying As Hedges Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeDerivativesQualifyingAsHedgesNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent	2056000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Derivatives Qualifying As Hedges Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeDerivativesQualifyingAsHedgesNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent	-2883000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent	-24868000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent	-56725000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent	12166000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	-139801000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	87601000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	-153449000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	5218349000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-165615000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent	12166000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Share Based Compensation StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensation	4474000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Adjustments Related To Tax Withholding For Share Based Compensation AdjustmentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation	5137000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Sharebased Compensation Requisite Service Period Recognition Value AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue	34460000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	5098697000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	144326000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent	-56725000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Share Based Compensation StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensation	3426000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Adjustments Related To Tax Withholding For Share Based Compensation AdjustmentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation	11175000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Sharebased Compensation Requisite Service Period Recognition Value AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue	33854000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	5212403000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-114933000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent	-24868000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Share Based Compensation StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensation	3434000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Adjustments Related To Tax Withholding For Share Based Compensation AdjustmentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation	16090000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Sharebased Compensation Requisite Service Period Recognition Value AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue	36821000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-165615000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	144326000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	5096767000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-114933000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Depreciation Amortization And Accretion Net DepreciationAmortizationAndAccretionNet	205475000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Depreciation Amortization And Accretion Net DepreciationAmortizationAndAccretionNet	130736000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Depreciation Amortization And Accretion Net DepreciationAmortizationAndAccretionNet	115313000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Asset Impairment Charges AssetImpairmentCharges	7577000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Asset Impairment Charges AssetImpairmentCharges	8065000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Asset Impairment Charges AssetImpairmentCharges	35364000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	37429000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	34154000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	35121000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	-284000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	34620000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	4266000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Equity Method Investment Dividends Or Distributions EquityMethodInvestmentDividendsOrDistributions	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Equity Method Investment Dividends Or Distributions EquityMethodInvestmentDividendsOrDistributions	12394000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Equity Method Investment Dividends Or Distributions EquityMethodInvestmentDividendsOrDistributions	23042000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Foreign Currency Transaction Gain Loss Unrealized ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossUnrealized	-919000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Foreign Currency Transaction Gain Loss Unrealized ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossUnrealized	-8740000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Foreign Currency Transaction Gain Loss Unrealized ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossUnrealized	15823000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Deferred Income Taxes And Tax Credits DeferredIncomeTaxesAndTaxCredits	-59917000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Deferred Income Taxes And Tax Credits DeferredIncomeTaxesAndTaxCredits	-10112000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Deferred Income Taxes And Tax Credits DeferredIncomeTaxesAndTaxCredits	173368000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Debt Securities Realized Gain Loss Excluding Other Than Temporary Impairment DebtSecuritiesRealizedGainLossExcludingOtherThanTemporaryImpairment	40621000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Debt Securities Realized Gain Loss Excluding Other Than Temporary Impairment DebtSecuritiesRealizedGainLossExcludingOtherThanTemporaryImpairment	55405000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Debt Securities Realized Gain Loss Excluding Other Than Temporary Impairment DebtSecuritiesRealizedGainLossExcludingOtherThanTemporaryImpairment	49000	USD
CY2019	fslr	Liabilitiesassumedbycustomersforthesaleofsystems Liabilitiesassumedbycustomersforthesaleofsystems	-88050000	USD
CY2018	fslr	Liabilitiesassumedbycustomersforthesaleofsystems Liabilitiesassumedbycustomersforthesaleofsystems	-240865000	USD
CY2017	fslr	Liabilitiesassumedbycustomersforthesaleofsystems Liabilitiesassumedbycustomersforthesaleofsystems	-24203000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Other Operating Activities Cash Flow Statement OtherOperatingActivitiesCashFlowStatement	759000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Other Operating Activities Cash Flow Statement OtherOperatingActivitiesCashFlowStatement	2121000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Other Operating Activities Cash Flow Statement OtherOperatingActivitiesCashFlowStatement	2339000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	73594000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	202298000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	-85760000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Prepaid Deferred Expense And Other Assets IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidDeferredExpenseAndOtherAssets	34528000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Prepaid Deferred Expense And Other Assets IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidDeferredExpenseAndOtherAssets	53488000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Prepaid Deferred Expense And Other Assets IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidDeferredExpenseAndOtherAssets	-26680000	USD
CY2017	fslr	Increase Decrease In Project Assets IncreaseDecreaseInProjectAssets	-981273000	USD
CY2019	fslr	Increase Decrease In Inventory And Bos Parts IncreaseDecreaseInInventoryAndBosParts	83528000	USD
CY2018	fslr	Increase Decrease In Inventory And Bos Parts IncreaseDecreaseInInventoryAndBosParts	257229000	USD
CY2017	fslr	Increase Decrease In Inventory And Bos Parts IncreaseDecreaseInInventoryAndBosParts	-212758000	USD
CY2019	fslr	Increase Decrease In Project Assets IncreaseDecreaseInProjectAssets	20773000	USD
CY2018	fslr	Increase Decrease In Project Assets IncreaseDecreaseInProjectAssets	-49939000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Assets IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingAssets	-28728000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Assets IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingAssets	11920000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Assets IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingAssets	1269000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Income Taxes Payable Net Of Income Taxes Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInIncomeTaxesPayableNetOfIncomeTaxesReceivable	8035000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Income Taxes Payable Net Of Income Taxes Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInIncomeTaxesPayableNetOfIncomeTaxesReceivable	-49169000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Income Taxes Payable Net Of Income Taxes Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInIncomeTaxesPayableNetOfIncomeTaxesReceivable	169079000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayable	-336000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayable	96443000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayable	-47191000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accrued Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccruedLiabilities	397527000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accrued Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccruedLiabilities	132382000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accrued Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccruedLiabilities	-258028000	USD
CY2019	fslr	Other Increase Decreasein Accrued Solar Module Collectionand Recycling Liability OtherIncreaseDecreaseinAccruedSolarModuleCollectionandRecyclingLiability	3748000	USD
CY2018	fslr	Other Increase Decreasein Accrued Solar Module Collectionand Recycling Liability OtherIncreaseDecreaseinAccruedSolarModuleCollectionandRecyclingLiability	-31003000	USD
CY2017	fslr	Other Increase Decreasein Accrued Solar Module Collectionand Recycling Liability OtherIncreaseDecreaseinAccruedSolarModuleCollectionandRecyclingLiability	-2976000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities	174201000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities	-326809000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities	1340677000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Property Plant And Equipment PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment	668717000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Property Plant And Equipment PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment	739838000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Property Plant And Equipment PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment	514357000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Available For Sale Securities Debt PaymentsToAcquireAvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebt	1177336000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Available For Sale Securities Debt PaymentsToAcquireAvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebt	1369036000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Available For Sale Securities Debt PaymentsToAcquireAvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebt	580971000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Maturities Prepayments And Calls Of Available For Sale Securities ProceedsFromMaturitiesPrepaymentsAndCallsOfAvailableForSaleSecurities	1486631000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Proceeds From Maturities Prepayments And Calls Of Available For Sale Securities ProceedsFromMaturitiesPrepaymentsAndCallsOfAvailableForSaleSecurities	1135984000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Proceeds From Maturities Prepayments And Calls Of Available For Sale Securities ProceedsFromMaturitiesPrepaymentsAndCallsOfAvailableForSaleSecurities	466309000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Equity Method Investments ProceedsFromSaleOfEquityMethodInvestments	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Equity Method Investments ProceedsFromSaleOfEquityMethodInvestments	247595000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Equity Method Investments ProceedsFromSaleOfEquityMethodInvestments	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Collection Of Advance To Affiliate ProceedsFromCollectionOfAdvanceToAffiliate	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Proceeds From Collection Of Advance To Affiliate ProceedsFromCollectionOfAdvanceToAffiliate	48729000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Proceeds From Collection Of Advance To Affiliate ProceedsFromCollectionOfAdvanceToAffiliate	1740000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Other Investing Activities PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities	2876000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Other Investing Activities PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities	6148000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Proceeds From Payments For Other Financing Activities ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities	-5585000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Proceeds From Payments For Other Financing Activities ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities	-37180000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease Including Exchange Rate Effect CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecreaseIncludingExchangeRateEffect	-116113000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	74943000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Other Investing Activities PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities	-477000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	-362298000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	-682714000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	-626802000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Repayments Of Debt And Capital Lease Obligations RepaymentsOfDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations	30099000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Repayments Of Debt And Capital Lease Obligations RepaymentsOfDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations	18937000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Repayments Of Debt And Capital Lease Obligations RepaymentsOfDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations	24078000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Long Term Debt ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt	120132000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Long Term Debt ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt	290925000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Long Term Debt ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt	215415000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments Related To Tax Withholding For Share Based Compensation PaymentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation	16089000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Payments Related To Tax Withholding For Share Based Compensation PaymentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation	11175000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Payments Related To Tax Withholding For Share Based Compensation PaymentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation	5137000	USD
CY2019	fslr	Proceeds From Commercial Letters Of Credit ProceedsFromCommercialLettersOfCredit	0	USD
CY2018	fslr	Proceeds From Commercial Letters Of Credit ProceedsFromCommercialLettersOfCredit	0	USD
CY2017	fslr	Proceeds From Commercial Letters Of Credit ProceedsFromCommercialLettersOfCredit	43025000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Payments For Other Financing Activities ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities	999000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	255228000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	192045000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Effect Of Exchange Rate On Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	-2959000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Effect Of Exchange Rate On Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	-13558000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Effect Of Exchange Rate On Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	8866000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease Including Exchange Rate Effect CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecreaseIncludingExchangeRateEffect	-767853000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease Including Exchange Rate Effect CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecreaseIncludingExchangeRateEffect	914786000	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
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	1415690000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	1446510000	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
CY2019	us-gaap	Capital Expenditures Incurred But Not Yet Paid CapitalExpendituresIncurredButNotYetPaid	76148000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Capital Expenditures Incurred But Not Yet Paid CapitalExpendituresIncurredButNotYetPaid	138270000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Capital Expenditures Incurred But Not Yet Paid CapitalExpendituresIncurredButNotYetPaid	164946000	USD
CY2019	fslr	Saleofsystempreviouslyaccountedforassaleleasebackfinancing Saleofsystempreviouslyaccountedforassaleleasebackfinancing	0	USD
CY2018	fslr	Saleofsystempreviouslyaccountedforassaleleasebackfinancing Saleofsystempreviouslyaccountedforassaleleasebackfinancing	31992000	USD
CY2017	fslr	Saleofsystempreviouslyaccountedforassaleleasebackfinancing Saleofsystempreviouslyaccountedforassaleleasebackfinancing	0	USD
CY2019	fslr	Accrued Interest Capitalizedto Long Term Debt AccruedInterestCapitalizedtoLongTermDebt	0	USD
CY2018	fslr	Accrued Interest Capitalizedto Long Term Debt AccruedInterestCapitalizedtoLongTermDebt	3512000	USD
CY2017	fslr	Accrued Interest Capitalizedto Long Term Debt AccruedInterestCapitalizedtoLongTermDebt	18401000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Comparability Of Prior Year Financial Data ComparabilityOfPriorYearFinancialData	<div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;">Basis of Presentation. </span><span style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">These consolidated financial statements include the accounts of First Solar, Inc. and its subsidiaries and are prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. We eliminated all intercompany transactions and balances during consolidation. Certain prior year balances were reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.</span></div>
CY2019	us-gaap	Use Of Estimates UseOfEstimates	<div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;">Use of Estimates.</span><span style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"> The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in our consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates, including those related to inputs used to recognize revenue over time, accrued solar module collection and recycling liabilities, product warranties, accounting for income taxes, and long-lived asset impairments. Despite our intention to establish accurate estimates and reasonable assumptions, actual results could differ materially from such estimates and assumptions.</span></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br/></span></div>
CY2018	us-gaap	Equity Method Investment Other Than Temporary Impairment EquityMethodInvestmentOtherThanTemporaryImpairment	3500000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Equity Method Investment Other Than Temporary Impairment EquityMethodInvestmentOtherThanTemporaryImpairment	2000000.0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Revenue Recognition Deferred Revenue RevenueRecognitionDeferredRevenue	<div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;">Deferred Revenue.</span><span style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"> When we receive consideration, or such consideration is unconditionally due, from a customer prior to transferring goods or services to the customer under the terms of a sales contract, we record deferred revenue, which represents a contract liability. Such deferred revenue typically results from billings in excess of costs incurred on long-term construction contracts and advance payments received on sales of solar modules. As a practical expedient, we do not adjust the consideration in a contract for the effects of a significant financing component when we expect, at contract inception, that the period between a customer’s advance payment and our transfer of a promised product or service to the customer will be one year or less. Additionally, we do not adjust the consideration in a contract for the effects of a significant financing component when the consideration is received as a form of performance security.</span></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br/></span></div>
CY2019	fslr	Standard Limited Module Workmanship Warranty Term StandardLimitedModuleWorkmanshipWarrantyTerm	P10Y
CY2019	fslr	Standard Limited Module Power Output Warranty Annual Degradation Percentage StandardLimitedModulePowerOutputWarrantyAnnualDegradationPercentage	0.005	pure
CY2019	fslr	Pv Solar Power Systems Policy Useful Life PVSolarPowerSystemsPolicyUsefulLife	P25Y
CY2019	fslr	Pv Solar Power Systems Policy Useful Life PVSolarPowerSystemsPolicyUsefulLife	P25Y
CY2019	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Award Vesting Period1 ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingPeriod1	P4Y
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	14462000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Goodwill Period Increase Decrease GoodwillPeriodIncreaseDecrease	0	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	14462000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	14462000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Goodwill Period Increase Decrease GoodwillPeriodIncreaseDecrease	0	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	14462000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Gross FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross	112230000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Accumulated Amortization FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization	47687000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Intangible Assets Net Excluding Goodwill IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill	64543000	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
CY2019	us-gaap	Amortization Of Intangible Assets AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	10200000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Amortization Of Intangible Assets AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	9900000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Amortization Of Intangible Assets AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	8300000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Next Twelve Months FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseNextTwelveMonths	10498000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Two FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearTwo	10496000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Three FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearThree	10471000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Four FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFour	10187000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Five FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFive	10057000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense After Year Five FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseAfterYearFive	12834000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Net FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet	64543000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	1352741000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	1403562000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Securities Current AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecuritiesCurrent	811506000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Securities Current AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecuritiesCurrent	1143704000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Investments And Cash InvestmentsAndCash	2164247000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Investments And Cash InvestmentsAndCash	2547266000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	1352741000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	1403562000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	13697000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	19671000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents Noncurrent RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent	80072000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents Noncurrent RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent	139390000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	1446510000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	1562623000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Available For Sale Securities Debt ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebt	52000000.0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Available For Sale Securities Debt ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebt	10800000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Available For Sale Securities Debt ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebt	118300000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Debt Securities Amortized Cost Basis AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAmortizedCostBasis	811277000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Debt Securities Accumulated Gross Unrealized Gain Before Tax AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax	747000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Debt Securities Accumulated Gross Unrealized Loss Before Tax AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax	518000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Securities Current AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecuritiesCurrent	811506000	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
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Continuous Unrealized Loss Position12 Months Or Longer Number Of Positions DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLongerNumberOfPositions	0	Investments
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
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Continuous Unrealized Loss Position Less Than12 Months DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThan12Months	208740000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Continuous Unrealized Loss Position Less Than12 Months Accumulated Loss DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThan12MonthsAccumulatedLoss	518000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Continuous Unrealized Loss Position12 Months Or Longer DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLonger	0	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Continuous Unrealized Loss Position12 Months Or Longer Accumulated Loss DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLongerAccumulatedLoss	0	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Unrealized Loss Position DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleUnrealizedLossPosition	208740000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Unrealized Loss Position Accumulated Loss DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleUnrealizedLossPositionAccumulatedLoss	518000	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 DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLonger	207152000	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
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities Within One Year Amortized Cost AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesWithinOneYearAmortizedCost	488118000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Debt Securities Availableforsale Maturities Rolling Year One Through Two DebtSecuritiesAvailableforsaleMaturitiesRollingYearOneThroughTwo	164410000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Debt Securities Availableforsale Maturities Rolling Year Two Through Three DebtSecuritiesAvailableforsaleMaturitiesRollingYearTwoThroughThree	158978000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Securities Current AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecuritiesCurrent	811506000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents Noncurrent RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent	80072000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents Noncurrent RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent	139390000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Restricted DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleRestricted	223785000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Restricted DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleRestricted	179000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Investments Noncurrent RestrictedCashAndInvestmentsNoncurrent	303857000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Investments Noncurrent RestrictedCashAndInvestmentsNoncurrent	318390000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	13700000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	19700000	USD
CY2019	fslr	Product Minimum Service Life ProductMinimumServiceLife	P25Y
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Gross Current AccountsReceivableGrossCurrent	476425000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Gross Current AccountsReceivableGrossCurrent	129644000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable Current AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent	1386000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable Current AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent	1362000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Net Current AccountsReceivableNetCurrent	475039000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Net Current AccountsReceivableNetCurrent	128282000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Secured Accounts Receivable SecuredAccountsReceivable	44900000	USD
CY2018Q4	fslr	Secured Accounts Receivable SecuredAccountsReceivable	8500000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Unbilled Receivables Current UnbilledReceivablesCurrent	162057000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Unbilled Receivables Current UnbilledReceivablesCurrent	441666000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Contract Receivable Retainage ContractReceivableRetainage	21416000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Contract Receivable Retainage ContractReceivableRetainage	16500000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Accounts Receivable Unbilledand Retainage AccountsReceivableUnbilledandRetainage	183473000	USD
CY2018Q4	fslr	Accounts Receivable Unbilledand Retainage AccountsReceivableUnbilledandRetainage	458166000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Raw Materials Net Of Reserves InventoryRawMaterialsNetOfReserves	248756000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Raw Materials Net Of Reserves InventoryRawMaterialsNetOfReserves	224329000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Work In Process Net Of Reserves InventoryWorkInProcessNetOfReserves	59924000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Work In Process Net Of Reserves InventoryWorkInProcessNetOfReserves	41294000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Finished Goods Net Of Reserves InventoryFinishedGoodsNetOfReserves	295479000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Finished Goods Net Of Reserves InventoryFinishedGoodsNetOfReserves	252372000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Inventory Current And Noncurrent Net InventoryCurrentAndNoncurrentNet	604159000	USD
CY2018Q4	fslr	Inventory Current And Noncurrent Net InventoryCurrentAndNoncurrentNet	517995000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Net InventoryNet	443513000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Net InventoryNet	387912000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Noncurrent InventoryNoncurrent	160646000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Noncurrent InventoryNoncurrent	130083000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Prepaid Expense Current PrepaidExpenseCurrent	137927000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Indirect Tax Receivables Current IndirectTaxReceivablesCurrent	29908000	USD
CY2018Q4	fslr	Indirect Tax Receivables Current IndirectTaxReceivablesCurrent	26327000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	13697000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	19671000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Notes And Loans Receivable Net Current NotesAndLoansReceivableNetCurrent	23873000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Notes And Loans Receivable Net Current NotesAndLoansReceivableNetCurrent	5196000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Prepaid Expense Current PrepaidExpenseCurrent	90981000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Prepaid Taxes PrepaidTaxes	47811000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Prepaid Taxes PrepaidTaxes	59319000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Assets Current DerivativeAssetsCurrent	1199000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Assets Current DerivativeAssetsCurrent	2364000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Current OtherAssetsCurrent	22040000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Current OtherAssetsCurrent	39203000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Prepaid Expense And Other Assets Current PrepaidExpenseAndOtherAssetsCurrent	276455000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Prepaid Expense And Other Assets Current PrepaidExpenseAndOtherAssetsCurrent	243061000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	3567231000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	3041068000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	1386082000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	1284857000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	2181149000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	1756211000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Pv Solar Power Systems Gross PVSolarPowerSystemsGross	530004000	USD
CY2018Q4	fslr	Pv Solar Power Systems Gross PVSolarPowerSystemsGross	343061000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Accumulated Depreciation Pv Solar Power Systems AccumulatedDepreciationPVSolarPowerSystems	53027000	USD
CY2018Q4	fslr	Accumulated Depreciation Pv Solar Power Systems AccumulatedDepreciationPVSolarPowerSystems	34421000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Pv Solar Power Systems Net PVSolarPowerSystemsNet	476977000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Interest Costs Incurred InterestCostsIncurred	29656000	USD
CY2018Q4	fslr	Pv Solar Power Systems Net PVSolarPowerSystemsNet	308640000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Project Assets Developmentand Land Costs ProjectAssetsDevelopmentandLandCosts	254466000	USD
CY2018Q4	fslr	Project Assets Developmentand Land Costs ProjectAssetsDevelopmentandLandCosts	298070000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Project Assets Construction Costs ProjectAssetsConstructionCosts	82654000	USD
CY2018Q4	fslr	Project Assets Construction Costs ProjectAssetsConstructionCosts	200359000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Total Project Assets Currentand Noncurrent TotalProjectAssetsCurrentandNoncurrent	337120000	USD
CY2018Q4	fslr	Total Project Assets Currentand Noncurrent TotalProjectAssetsCurrentandNoncurrent	498429000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Project Assets Current ProjectAssetsCurrent	3524000	USD
CY2018Q4	fslr	Project Assets Current ProjectAssetsCurrent	37930000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Project Assets Noncurrent ProjectAssetsNoncurrent	333596000	USD
CY2018Q4	fslr	Project Assets Noncurrent ProjectAssetsNoncurrent	460499000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Interest Costs Incurred InterestCostsIncurred	31752000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Interest Costs Incurred InterestCostsIncurred	27457000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	27066000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	25921000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	25765000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Right Of Use Asset OperatingLeaseRightOfUseAsset	145711000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Right Of Use Asset OperatingLeaseRightOfUseAsset	0	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Indirect Tax Receivables Noncurrent IndirectTaxReceivablesNoncurrent	9446000	USD
CY2018Q4	fslr	Indirect Tax Receivables Noncurrent IndirectTaxReceivablesNoncurrent	22487000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Notes And Loans Receivable Net Noncurrent NotesAndLoansReceivableNetNoncurrent	8194000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Notes And Loans Receivable Net Noncurrent NotesAndLoansReceivableNetNoncurrent	8017000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Income Tax Receivable IncomeTaxReceivable	4106000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Miscellaneous Noncurrent OtherAssetsMiscellaneousNoncurrent	33495000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Income Tax Receivable IncomeTaxReceivable	4444000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Equity Method Investments EquityMethodInvestments	2812000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Equity Method Investments EquityMethodInvestments	3186000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Assets Noncurrent DerivativeAssetsNoncurrent	139000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Assets Noncurrent DerivativeAssetsNoncurrent	0	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Rent Receivables Net DeferredRentReceivablesNet	0	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Rent Receivables Net DeferredRentReceivablesNet	27249000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Miscellaneous Noncurrent OtherAssetsMiscellaneousNoncurrent	79446000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Noncurrent OtherAssetsNoncurrent	249854000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Noncurrent OtherAssetsNoncurrent	98878000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Accrued Project Assets AccruedProjectAssets	91971000	USD
CY2018Q4	fslr	Accrued Project Assets AccruedProjectAssets	147162000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Employee Related Liabilities Current EmployeeRelatedLiabilitiesCurrent	65170000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Employee Related Liabilities Current EmployeeRelatedLiabilitiesCurrent	41937000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Accrued Property Plant And Equipment AccruedPropertyPlantAndEquipment	42834000	USD
CY2018Q4	fslr	Accrued Property Plant And Equipment AccruedPropertyPlantAndEquipment	89905000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Accrued Inventory AccruedInventory	39366000	USD
CY2018Q4	fslr	Accrued Inventory AccruedInventory	53075000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Product Warranty Accrual Classified Current ProductWarrantyAccrualClassifiedCurrent	20291000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Product Warranty Accrual Classified Current ProductWarrantyAccrualClassifiedCurrent	27657000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Accrued Liabilities Current OtherAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	91628000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Other Accrued Liabilities Current OtherAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	81844000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Liabilities Current AccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	351260000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Liabilities Current AccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	441580000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Current OperatingLeaseLiabilityCurrent	11102000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Current OperatingLeaseLiabilityCurrent	0	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Liabilities Current DerivativeLiabilitiesCurrent	2582000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Liabilities Current DerivativeLiabilitiesCurrent	7294000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Contingent Consideration Liability Current ContingentConsiderationLiabilityCurrent	2395000	USD
CY2018Q4	fslr	Contingent Consideration Liability Current ContingentConsiderationLiabilityCurrent	665000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Sundry Liabilities Current OtherSundryLiabilitiesCurrent	12051000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Other Sundry Liabilities Current OtherSundryLiabilitiesCurrent	6421000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Current OtherLiabilitiesCurrent	28130000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Current OtherLiabilitiesCurrent	14380000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Noncurrent OperatingLeaseLiabilityNoncurrent	112515000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Noncurrent OperatingLeaseLiabilityNoncurrent	0	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Product Warranty Accrual Noncurrent ProductWarrantyAccrualNoncurrent	109506000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Product Warranty Accrual Noncurrent ProductWarrantyAccrualNoncurrent	193035000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Income Taxes Noncurrent AccruedIncomeTaxesNoncurrent	90201000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Income Taxes Noncurrent AccruedIncomeTaxesNoncurrent	83058000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Revenue Noncurrent DeferredRevenueNoncurrent	71438000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Revenue Noncurrent DeferredRevenueNoncurrent	48014000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Of2017 Incomplete Accounting Transition Tax For Accumulated Foreign Earnings Provisional Liability Noncurrent TaxCutsAndJobsActOf2017IncompleteAccountingTransitionTaxForAccumulatedForeignEarningsProvisionalLiabilityNoncurrent	70047000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Of2017 Incomplete Accounting Transition Tax For Accumulated Foreign Earnings Provisional Liability Noncurrent TaxCutsAndJobsActOf2017IncompleteAccountingTransitionTaxForAccumulatedForeignEarningsProvisionalLiabilityNoncurrent	77016000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Liabilities Noncurrent DerivativeLiabilitiesNoncurrent	7439000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Liabilities Noncurrent DerivativeLiabilitiesNoncurrent	9205000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Contingentconsiderationnoncurrent Contingentconsiderationnoncurrent	4500000	USD
CY2018Q4	fslr	Contingentconsiderationnoncurrent Contingentconsiderationnoncurrent	2250000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Sundry Liabilities Noncurrent OtherSundryLiabilitiesNoncurrent	43120000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Other Sundry Liabilities Noncurrent OtherSundryLiabilitiesNoncurrent	55261000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Noncurrent OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent	508766000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Noncurrent OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent	467839000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Operating Lease Cost OperatingLeaseCost	21833000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Variable Lease Cost VariableLeaseCost	3518000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Short Term Lease Cost ShortTermLeaseCost	7511000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Lease Cost LeaseCost	32862000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Operating Lease Payments OperatingLeasePayments	21678000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Right Of Use Asset Obtained In Exchange For Operating Lease Liability RightOfUseAssetObtainedInExchangeForOperatingLeaseLiability	179804000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Right Of Use Asset OperatingLeaseRightOfUseAsset	145711000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Current OperatingLeaseLiabilityCurrent	11102000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Noncurrent OperatingLeaseLiabilityNoncurrent	112515000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term1 OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageRemainingLeaseTerm1	P15Y
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Weighted Average Discount Rate Percent OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageDiscountRatePercent	0.043	pure
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Next Twelve Months LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueNextTwelveMonths	15153000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Two LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearTwo	14868000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Three LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearThree	13903000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Four LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearFour	13491000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Five LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearFive	13217000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due After Year Five LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueAfterYearFive	92281000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDue	162913000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Undiscounted Excess Amount LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityUndiscountedExcessAmount	39296000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability OperatingLeaseLiability	123617000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Lease And Rental Expense LeaseAndRentalExpense	18900000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Lease And Rental Expense LeaseAndRentalExpense	22100000	USD
CY2018	fslr	Changein Estimateof Module Collectionand Recycling Liability ChangeinEstimateofModuleCollectionandRecyclingLiability	34200000	USD
CY2017	fslr	Changein Estimateof Module Collectionand Recycling Liability ChangeinEstimateofModuleCollectionandRecyclingLiability	15800000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Solar Module Collection And Recycling Liability SolarModuleCollectionAndRecyclingLiability	137800000	USD
CY2018Q4	fslr	Solar Module Collection And Recycling Liability SolarModuleCollectionAndRecyclingLiability	134400000	USD
CY2019	fslr	Solarmodulecollectionandrecyclingexpenseaccretionexpense Solarmodulecollectionandrecyclingexpenseaccretionexpense	4900000	USD
CY2018	fslr	Solarmodulecollection Andrecyclingexpensecostofsales SolarmodulecollectionAndrecyclingexpensecostofsales	-25000000.0	USD
CY2018	fslr	Solarmodulecollectionandrecyclingexpenseaccretionexpense Solarmodulecollectionandrecyclingexpenseaccretionexpense	-2900000	USD
CY2017	fslr	Solarmodulecollection Andrecyclingexpensecostofsales SolarmodulecollectionAndrecyclingexpensecostofsales	-13200000	USD
CY2017	fslr	Solarmodulecollectionandrecyclingexpenseaccretionexpense Solarmodulecollectionandrecyclingexpenseaccretionexpense	3900000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Percentageincreaseinannualizedinflationrate Percentageincreaseinannualizedinflationrate	0.01	pure
CY2019Q4	fslr	Estimated Increasein Solar Module Collection Recycling Liabilityfrom Sensitivity Analysis EstimatedIncreaseinSolarModuleCollectionRecyclingLiabilityfromSensitivityAnalysis	26300000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Percentagedecreaseinannualizedinflationrate Percentagedecreaseinannualizedinflationrate	0.01	pure
CY2019Q4	fslr	Estimated Decreasein Solar Module Collection Recycling Liabilityfrom Sensitivity Analysis EstimatedDecreaseinSolarModuleCollectionRecyclingLiabilityfromSensitivityAnalysis	22300000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Carrying Amount DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount	482892000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Carrying Amount DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount	479157000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Unamortized Discount Premium And Debt Issuance Costs Net DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscountPremiumAndDebtIssuanceCostsNet	11195000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Unamortized Discount Premium And Debt Issuance Costs Net DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscountPremiumAndDebtIssuanceCostsNet	12366000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Debt Longterm And Shortterm Combined Amount DebtLongtermAndShorttermCombinedAmount	471697000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Debt Longterm And Shortterm Combined Amount DebtLongtermAndShorttermCombinedAmount	466791000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations Current LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent	17510000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations Current LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent	5570000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations	454187000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations	461221000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Interest Paid InterestPaid	18800000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Interest Paid InterestPaid	16600000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Interest Paid InterestPaid	10200000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Next Twelve Months LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInNextTwelveMonths	17684000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Two LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearTwo	79306000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Three LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearThree	19265000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Four LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearFour	18284000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Five LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearFive	19212000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal After Year Five LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalAfterYearFive	329141000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt LongTermDebt	482892000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Bank Guaranteesand Lettersof Credit BankGuaranteesandLettersofCredit	9800000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Surety Bonds SuretyBonds	89800000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Surety Bond Capacity SuretyBondCapacity	626400000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation Balance Sheet Amount UnrecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationBalanceSheetAmount	1400000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Unrecorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation Balance On First Anniversary UnrecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationBalanceOnFirstAnniversary	900000000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual StandardProductWarrantyAccrual	220692000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual StandardProductWarrantyAccrual	224274000	USD
CY2016Q4	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual StandardProductWarrantyAccrual	252408000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Product Warranty Accrual Warranties Issued ProductWarrantyAccrualWarrantiesIssued	17327000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Product Warranty Accrual Warranties Issued ProductWarrantyAccrualWarrantiesIssued	14132000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Product Warranty Accrual Warranties Issued ProductWarrantyAccrualWarrantiesIssued	23313000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Payments StandardProductWarrantyAccrualPayments	22540000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Payments StandardProductWarrantyAccrualPayments	11851000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Payments StandardProductWarrantyAccrualPayments	11329000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Preexisting Increase Decrease StandardProductWarrantyAccrualPreexistingIncreaseDecrease	-85682000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Preexisting Increase Decrease StandardProductWarrantyAccrualPreexistingIncreaseDecrease	-5863000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Preexisting Increase Decrease StandardProductWarrantyAccrualPreexistingIncreaseDecrease	-40118000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual StandardProductWarrantyAccrual	129797000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual StandardProductWarrantyAccrual	220692000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual StandardProductWarrantyAccrual	224274000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Current StandardProductWarrantyAccrualCurrent	20291000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Current StandardProductWarrantyAccrualCurrent	27657000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Current StandardProductWarrantyAccrualCurrent	28767000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Noncurrent StandardProductWarrantyAccrualNoncurrent	109506000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Noncurrent StandardProductWarrantyAccrualNoncurrent	193035000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Noncurrent StandardProductWarrantyAccrualNoncurrent	195507000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Period Increase Decrease StandardProductWarrantyAccrualPeriodIncreaseDecrease	80000000.0	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Period Increase Decrease StandardProductWarrantyAccrualPeriodIncreaseDecrease	31300000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Estimated Rateof Returnfor Module Warranty EstimatedRateofReturnforModuleWarranty	0.01	pure
CY2019Q4	fslr	Percentage Point Changein Estimated Rateof Returnof Module Warranty PercentagePointChangeinEstimatedRateofReturnofModuleWarranty	0.01	pure
CY2019Q4	fslr	Estimated Changein Module Warrantyfrom Sensitivity Analysis EstimatedChangeinModuleWarrantyfromSensitivityAnalysis	89800000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Percentage Point Changein Estimated Rateof Returnof Balanceof Systems Warranty PercentagePointChangeinEstimatedRateofReturnofBalanceofSystemsWarranty	0.01	pure
CY2019Q4	fslr	Energy Performance Testing Liability EnergyPerformanceTestingLiability	4600000	USD
CY2018Q4	fslr	Energy Performance Testing Liability EnergyPerformanceTestingLiability	400000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Effective Availability Guarantee Liability EffectiveAvailabilityGuaranteeLiability	600000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Guarantee Obligations Current Carrying Value GuaranteeObligationsCurrentCarryingValue	800000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Guarantor Obligations Carrying Value Non Current GuarantorObligationsCarryingValueNonCurrent	4200000	USD
CY2018Q4	fslr	Guarantor Obligations Carrying Value Non Current GuarantorObligationsCarryingValueNonCurrent	3000000.0	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Guarantee Obligations Maximum Exposure GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposure	152800000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Guarantor Obligations Potential Insurance Recoveries GuarantorObligationsPotentialInsuranceRecoveries	84900000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Project Acquisition Contingent Consideration Liability Current ProjectAcquisitionContingentConsiderationLiabilityCurrent	2400000	USD
CY2018Q4	fslr	Project Acquisition Contingent Consideration Liability Current ProjectAcquisitionContingentConsiderationLiabilityCurrent	700000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Project Acquisition Contingent Consideration Liability Noncurrent ProjectAcquisitionContingentConsiderationLiabilityNoncurrent	4500000	USD
CY2018Q4	fslr	Project Acquisition Contingent Consideration Liability Noncurrent ProjectAcquisitionContingentConsiderationLiabilityNoncurrent	2300000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	3063117000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	2244044000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	2941324000	USD
CY2019	fslr	Project Changein Estimate Disclosure Threshold ProjectChangeinEstimateDisclosureThreshold	1000000.0	USD
CY2019	fslr	Numberof Projectswith Changesin Estimates NumberofProjectswithChangesinEstimates	3	Projects
CY2018	fslr	Numberof Projectswith Changesin Estimates NumberofProjectswithChangesinEstimates	24	Projects
CY2017	fslr	Numberof Projectswith Changesin Estimates NumberofProjectswithChangesinEstimates	5	Projects
CY2019	fslr	Increase Decreasein Revenuefrom Net Changesin Transaction Price IncreaseDecreaseinRevenuefromNetChangesinTransactionPrice	-3642000	USD
CY2018	fslr	Increase Decreasein Revenuefrom Net Changesin Transaction Price IncreaseDecreaseinRevenuefromNetChangesinTransactionPrice	63361000	USD
CY2017	fslr	Increase Decreasein Revenuefrom Net Changesin Transaction Price IncreaseDecreaseinRevenuefromNetChangesinTransactionPrice	3579000	USD
CY2019	fslr	Increase Decreasein Revenuefrom Net Changesin Input Cost Estimates IncreaseDecreaseinRevenuefromNetChangesinInputCostEstimates	-23103000	USD
CY2018	fslr	Increase Decreasein Revenuefrom Net Changesin Input Cost Estimates IncreaseDecreaseinRevenuefromNetChangesinInputCostEstimates	1548000	USD
CY2017	fslr	Increase Decreasein Revenuefrom Net Changesin Input Cost Estimates IncreaseDecreaseinRevenuefromNetChangesinInputCostEstimates	5047000	USD
CY2019	fslr	Increase Decreasein Revenuefrom Net Changesin Estimates IncreaseDecreaseinRevenuefromNetChangesinEstimates	-26745000	USD
CY2018	fslr	Increase Decreasein Revenuefrom Net Changesin Estimates IncreaseDecreaseinRevenuefromNetChangesinEstimates	64909000	USD
CY2017	fslr	Increase Decreasein Revenuefrom Net Changesin Estimates IncreaseDecreaseinRevenuefromNetChangesinEstimates	8626000	USD
CY2019	fslr	Net Changein Estimateasa Percentageof Aggregate Revenuefor Associated Projects NetChangeinEstimateasaPercentageofAggregateRevenueforAssociatedProjects	-0.046	pure
CY2018	fslr	Net Changein Estimateasa Percentageof Aggregate Revenuefor Associated Projects NetChangeinEstimateasaPercentageofAggregateRevenueforAssociatedProjects	0.006	pure
CY2017	fslr	Net Changein Estimateasa Percentageof Aggregate Revenuefor Associated Projects NetChangeinEstimateasaPercentageofAggregateRevenueforAssociatedProjects	0.006	pure
CY2019	fslr	Increase Decreasein Revenuefrom Net Changesin Indirect Tax Estimates IncreaseDecreaseinRevenuefromNetChangesinIndirectTaxEstimates	54600000	USD
CY2018Q4	fslr	Accounts Receivable Unbilledand Retainage AccountsReceivableUnbilledandRetainage	458166000	USD
CY2019	fslr	Contract Asset Net Change ContractAssetNetChange	-274693000	USD
CY2019	fslr	Contract Asset Percent Change ContractAssetPercentChange	-0.60	pure
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Revenue DeferredRevenue	394655000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Revenue DeferredRevenue	177769000	USD
CY2019	fslr	Contract Liability Net Change ContractLiabilityNetChange	216886000	USD
CY2019	fslr	Contract Liability Percent Change ContractLiabilityPercentChange	1.22	pure
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Revenue Noncurrent DeferredRevenueNoncurrent	71400000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Revenue Noncurrent DeferredRevenueNoncurrent	48000000.0	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Unbilled Receivables Current UnbilledReceivablesCurrent	162057000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Unbilled Receivables Current UnbilledReceivablesCurrent	441666000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Contract Receivable Retainage ContractReceivableRetainage	21416000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Contract Receivable Retainage ContractReceivableRetainage	16500000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Accounts Receivable Unbilledand Retainage AccountsReceivableUnbilledandRetainage	183473000	USD
CY2019	fslr	Contract Asset Net Change ContractAssetNetChange	-274700000	USD
CY2019	fslr	Contract Liability Net Change ContractLiabilityNetChange	216900000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Liability Revenue Recognized ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRevenueRecognized	117700000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Liability Revenue Recognized ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRevenueRecognized	128700000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Authorized PreferredStockSharesAuthorized	30000000	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share PreferredStockParOrStatedValuePerShare	0.001
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Issued PreferredStockSharesIssued	0	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	500000000	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare	0.001
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Issued CommonStockSharesIssued	105448921	shares
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Issued CommonStockSharesIssued	104885261	shares
CY2017	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	35121000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Capitalized In Inventory EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationCapitalizedInInventory	1200000	USD
CY2018Q4	fslr	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Capitalized In Inventory EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationCapitalizedInInventory	1800000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Of2017 Incomplete Accounting Change In Tax Rate Provisional Income Tax Expense Benefit TaxCutsAndJobsActOf2017IncompleteAccountingChangeInTaxRateProvisionalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	6600000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Nonvested Awards Total Compensation Cost Not Yet Recognized EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized	35600000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Nonvested Awards Total Compensation Cost Not Yet Recognized Period For Recognition1 EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedPeriodForRecognition1	P1Y
CY2019	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Tax Benefit From Compensation Expense EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense	9600000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Tax Benefit From Compensation Expense EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense	9900000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Tax Benefit From Compensation Expense EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense	6200000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	0.35	pure
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	0.21	pure
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	0.21	pure
CY2019	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	37429000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	34154000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Of2017 Incomplete Accounting Change In Tax Rate Provisional Income Tax Expense Benefit TaxCutsAndJobsActOf2017IncompleteAccountingChangeInTaxRateProvisionalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-2300000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Of2017 Incomplete Accounting Transition Tax For Accumulated Foreign Earnings Provisional Income Tax Expense TaxCutsAndJobsActOf2017IncompleteAccountingTransitionTaxForAccumulatedForeignEarningsProvisionalIncomeTaxExpense	401500000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Of2017 Incomplete Accounting Transition Tax For Accumulated Foreign Earnings Provisional Income Tax Expense TaxCutsAndJobsActOf2017IncompleteAccountingTransitionTaxForAccumulatedForeignEarningsProvisionalIncomeTaxExpense	-8100000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Of2017 Incomplete Accounting Transition Tax For Accumulated Foreign Earnings Provisional Liability TaxCutsAndJobsActOf2017IncompleteAccountingTransitionTaxForAccumulatedForeignEarningsProvisionalLiability	76700000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Of2017 Incomplete Accounting Transition Tax For Accumulated Foreign Earnings Provisional Liability TaxCutsAndJobsActOf2017IncompleteAccountingTransitionTaxForAccumulatedForeignEarningsProvisionalLiability	81200000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Of2017 Measurement Period Adjustment Increase Decrease In Effective Tax Rate TaxCutsAndJobsActOf2017MeasurementPeriodAdjustmentIncreaseDecreaseInEffectiveTaxRate	-0.092	pure
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	113147000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	202115000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Domestic IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesDomestic	-22868000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Foreign IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesForeign	119418000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Foreign IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesForeign	162500000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Foreign IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesForeign	224983000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	-120129000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Domestic IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesDomestic	-239547000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Domestic IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesDomestic	-49353000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	9961000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	-44267000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	116956000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Current State And Local Tax Expense Benefit CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit	3890000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Current State And Local Tax Expense Benefit CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit	-13568000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Current State And Local Tax Expense Benefit CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit	3009000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Current Foreign Tax Expense Benefit CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit	41080000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Current Foreign Tax Expense Benefit CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit	8788000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Current Foreign Tax Expense Benefit CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit	11099000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Current Income Tax Expense Benefit CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	54931000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Current Income Tax Expense Benefit CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-49047000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Current Income Tax Expense Benefit CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	131064000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Deferred Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-55647000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Deferred Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	31530000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Deferred Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	226570000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Deferred State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-6737000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Deferred State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	2387000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Deferred State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	5335000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Deferred Foreign Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	1973000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Deferred Foreign Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	18571000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Deferred Foreign Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	9027000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-60411000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	52488000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	240932000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-5480000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	3441000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	371996000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Foreign Income Tax Rate Differential IncomeTaxReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential	17195000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Foreign Income Tax Rate Differential EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential	-0.143	pure
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Foreign Income Tax Rate Differential IncomeTaxReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential	14117000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Foreign Income Tax Rate Differential EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential	0.125	pure
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationNondeductibleExpense	0.041	pure
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Change In Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	-5735000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Change In Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	0.048	pure
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Change In Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	19064000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Change In Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	0.168	pure
CY2017	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Change In Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	9534000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Change In Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	0.047	pure
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationNondeductibleExpense	-0.093	pure
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense IncomeTaxReconciliationNondeductibleExpense	4636000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Income Tax Expense Benefit At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate IncomeTaxReconciliationIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	-25227000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	0.210	pure
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Income Tax Expense Benefit At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate IncomeTaxReconciliationIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	23761000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	0.210	pure
CY2017	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Income Tax Expense Benefit At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate IncomeTaxReconciliationIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	70740000	USD
CY2017	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	0.350	pure
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Of2017 Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCutsAndJobsActOf2017Amount	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Of2017 Percent EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCutsAndJobsActOf2017Percent	0	pure
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Of2017 Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCutsAndJobsActOf2017Amount	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Of2017 Percent EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCutsAndJobsActOf2017Percent	0	pure
CY2017	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Of2017 Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCutsAndJobsActOf2017Amount	408090000	USD
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CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Other DeferredTaxAssetsOther	17373000	USD
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CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Other DeferredTaxLiabilitiesOther	10790000	USD
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CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	151705000	USD
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CY2019	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	105310000	shares
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CY2017	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	2941324000	USD
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$FSLR
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2018 Q4 Form 10-K Financial Statement

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$FSLR First Solar Inc Stock $fslr

2018 Q4 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000127449420000011 Filed on February 21, 2020

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cashflow Statement

Facts In Submission

Files In Submission

$FSLR
First Solar Inc Stock $fslr