$FSLR
First Solar Inc Stock $fslr

$fslr Overview Financials Valuation SEC Filings Company Website

2020 Q1 Form 10-Q Financial Statement

#000127449420000014 Filed on May 08, 2020

Income Statement

Concept	2020 Q1	2019 Q1
Revenue	$532.1M	$532.0M
YoY Change	0.03%	-6.22%
Cost Of Revenue	$441.8M	$531.9M
YoY Change	-16.94%	34.83%
Gross Profit	$90.34M	$112.0K
YoY Change	80558.93%	-99.94%
Gross Profit Margin	16.98%	0.02%
Selling, General & Admin	$58.59M	$45.35M
YoY Change	29.18%	10.28%
% of Gross Profit	64.85%	40492.86%
Research & Development	$25.61M	$21.88M
YoY Change	17.08%	7.64%
% of Gross Profit	28.35%	19533.04%
Depreciation & Amortization	$56.30M	$48.90M
YoY Change	15.13%	100.41%
% of Gross Profit	62.32%	43660.71%
Operating Expenses	$88.68M	$76.75M
YoY Change	15.55%	-22.11%
Operating Profit	$1.656M	-$76.64M
YoY Change	-102.16%	-203.2%
Interest Expense	$6.789M	$10.12M
YoY Change	-32.92%	95.31%
% of Operating Profit	409.96%
Other Income/Expense, Net	-$2.222M	$3.509M
YoY Change	-163.32%	-80.43%
Pretax Income	$1.577M	-$68.82M
YoY Change	-102.29%	-171.45%
Income Tax	-$89.22M	-$1.394M
% Of Pretax Income	-5657.26%
Net Earnings	$90.70M	-$67.60M
YoY Change	-234.18%	-181.49%
Net Earnings / Revenue	17.05%	-12.71%
Basic Earnings Per Share	$0.86	-$0.64
Diluted Earnings Per Share	$0.85	-$0.64
COMMON SHARES
Basic Shares Outstanding	105.6M shares	105.0M shares
Diluted Shares Outstanding	106.4M shares	105.0M shares

Balance Sheet

Concept	2020 Q1	2019 Q1
SHORT-TERM ASSETS
Cash & Short-Term Investments	$1.509B	$2.117B
YoY Change	-28.74%	-26.45%
Cash & Equivalents	$929.4M	$1.013B
Short-Term Investments	$579.3M	$1.104B
Other Short-Term Assets	$25.38M	$37.58M
YoY Change	-32.46%	-66.97%
Inventory	$479.8M	$459.5M
Prepaid Expenses	$146.0M	$110.1M
Receivables	$290.3M	$301.7M
Other Receivables	$29.30M	$39.80M
Total Short-Term Assets	$2.748B	$3.663B
YoY Change	-24.98%	-2.85%
LONG-TERM ASSETS
Property, Plant & Equipment	$2.244B	$1.859B
YoY Change	20.7%	41.75%
Goodwill	$14.46M	$14.46M
YoY Change	0.0%	0.0%
Intangibles	$63.92M	$71.64M
YoY Change	-10.78%	-10.01%
Long-Term Investments	$2.702M	$2.960M
YoY Change	-8.72%	-98.53%
Other Assets	$377.3M	$242.0M
YoY Change	55.92%	155.5%
Total Long-Term Assets	$4.201B	$3.594B
YoY Change	16.89%	17.08%
TOTAL ASSETS
Total Short-Term Assets	$2.748B	$3.663B
Total Long-Term Assets	$4.201B	$3.594B
Total Assets	$6.949B	$7.257B
YoY Change	-4.24%	6.09%
SHORT-TERM LIABILITIES
YoY Change
Accounts Payable	$173.8M	$221.7M
YoY Change	-21.64%	61.97%
Accrued Expenses	$296.8M	$408.0M
YoY Change	-27.26%	37.18%
Deferred Revenue
YoY Change
Short-Term Debt	$0.00	$0.00
YoY Change
Long-Term Debt Due	$81.80M	$12.40M
YoY Change	559.68%	103.28%
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$732.4M	$836.5M
YoY Change	-12.44%	51.07%
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
Long-Term Debt	$390.6M	$558.4M
YoY Change	-30.05%	29.32%
Other Long-Term Liabilities	$519.5M	$598.7M
YoY Change	-13.23%	14.05%
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$519.5M	$598.7M
YoY Change	-13.23%	14.05%
TOTAL LIABILITIES
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$732.4M	$836.5M
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$519.5M	$598.7M
Total Liabilities	$1.781B	$2.128B
YoY Change	-16.32%	26.59%
SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY
Retained Earnings	$2.408B	$2.374B
YoY Change	1.44%	-0.26%
Common Stock	$2.844B	$2.814B
YoY Change	1.06%	0.59%
Preferred Stock
YoY Change
Treasury Stock (at cost)
YoY Change
Treasury Stock Shares
Shareholders Equity	$5.169B	$5.129B
YoY Change
Total Liabilities & Shareholders Equity	$6.949B	$7.257B
YoY Change	-4.24%	6.09%

Cashflow Statement

Concept	2020 Q1	2019 Q1
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net Income	$90.70M	-$67.60M
YoY Change	-234.18%	-181.49%
Depreciation, Depletion And Amortization	$56.30M	$48.90M
YoY Change	15.13%	100.41%
Cash From Operating Activities	-$504.9M	-$303.4M
YoY Change	66.38%	570.05%
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital Expenditures	$112.5M	$149.2M
YoY Change	-24.55%	-16.07%
Acquisitions
YoY Change
Other Investing Activities	$14.15M	-$21.00K
YoY Change	-67480.95%	-100.4%
Cash From Investing Activities	$96.45M	-$139.8M
YoY Change	-169.0%	-62.7%
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Cash Dividend Paid
YoY Change
Common Stock Issuance & Retirement, Net
YoY Change
Debt Paid & Issued, Net	$325.0K	$2.703M
YoY Change	-87.98%
Cash From Financing Activities	-$13.44M	$87.84M
YoY Change	-115.3%	108.36%
NET CHANGE
Cash From Operating Activities	-$504.9M	-$303.4M
Cash From Investing Activities	$96.45M	-$139.8M
Cash From Financing Activities	-$13.44M	$87.84M
Net Change In Cash	-$427.6M	-$356.0M
YoY Change	20.12%	-7.02%
FREE CASH FLOW
Cash From Operating Activities	-$504.9M	-$303.4M
Capital Expenditures	$112.5M	$149.2M
Free Cash Flow	-$617.4M	-$452.6M
YoY Change	36.41%	102.95%

Facts In Submission

Frame	Concept Type	Concept / XBRL Key	Value	Unit
CY2020Q1	dei	Entity Central Index Key EntityCentralIndexKey	0001274494
CY2020Q1	dei	Document Type DocumentType	10-Q
CY2020Q1	dei	Entity File Number EntityFileNumber	001-33156
CY2020Q1	dei	Amendment Flag AmendmentFlag	false
CY2020Q1	dei	Document Fiscal Year Focus DocumentFiscalYearFocus	2020
CY2020Q1	dei	Document Fiscal Period Focus DocumentFiscalPeriodFocus	Q1
CY2020Q1	dei	Current Fiscal Year End Date CurrentFiscalYearEndDate	--12-31
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Holding Gain Loss On Securities Arising During Period Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodTax	-389000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Holding Gain Loss On Securities Arising During Period Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodTax	-977000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss On Derivatives Arising During Period Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodTax	79000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Gain Loss On Derivatives Arising During Period Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodTax	27000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Common Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare	0.001
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare	0.001
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	500000000	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	500000000	shares
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Issued CommonStockSharesIssued	105905580	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Issued CommonStockSharesIssued	105448921	shares
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Outstanding CommonStockSharesOutstanding	105905580	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Outstanding CommonStockSharesOutstanding	105448921	shares
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Available For Sale Debt Securities Amortized Cost Basis AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAmortizedCostBasis	586628000	USD
CY2020Q1	dei	Document Quarterly Report DocumentQuarterlyReport	true
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Allowance For Credit Loss DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleAllowanceForCreditLoss	215000	USD
CY2020Q1	dei	Document Transition Report DocumentTransitionReport	false
CY2020Q1	dei	Document Period End Date DocumentPeriodEndDate	2020-03-31
CY2020Q1	dei	Entity Registrant Name EntityRegistrantName	First Solar, Inc.
CY2020Q1	dei	Entity Incorporation State Country Code EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode	DE
CY2020Q1	dei	Entity Tax Identification Number EntityTaxIdentificationNumber	20-4623678
CY2020Q1	dei	Entity Address Address Line1 EntityAddressAddressLine1	350 West Washington Street, Suite 600
CY2020Q1	dei	Entity Address City Or Town EntityAddressCityOrTown	Tempe
CY2020Q1	dei	Entity Address State Or Province EntityAddressStateOrProvince	AZ
CY2020Q1	dei	Entity Address Postal Zip Code EntityAddressPostalZipCode	85281
CY2020Q1	dei	City Area Code CityAreaCode	602
CY2020Q1	dei	Local Phone Number LocalPhoneNumber	414-9300
CY2020Q1	dei	Security12b Title Security12bTitle	Common stock, $0.001 par value
CY2020Q1	dei	Trading Symbol TradingSymbol	FSLR
CY2020Q1	dei	Security Exchange Name SecurityExchangeName	NASDAQ
CY2020Q1	dei	Entity Current Reporting Status EntityCurrentReportingStatus	Yes
CY2020Q1	dei	Entity Interactive Data Current EntityInteractiveDataCurrent	Yes
CY2020Q1	dei	Entity Filer Category EntityFilerCategory	Large Accelerated Filer
CY2020Q1	dei	Entity Small Business EntitySmallBusiness	false
CY2020Q1	dei	Entity Emerging Growth Company EntityEmergingGrowthCompany	false
CY2020Q1	dei	Entity Shell Company EntityShellCompany	false
CY2020Q2	dei	Entity Common Stock Shares Outstanding EntityCommonStockSharesOutstanding	105907134	shares
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	532124000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	531978000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods And Services Sold CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold	441786000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods And Services Sold CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold	531866000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	90338000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	112000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	58587000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	45352000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	25613000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	21877000	USD
CY2019Q1	fslr	Production Start Up Expense ProductionStartUpExpense	9522000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Operating Expenses OperatingExpenses	88682000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Production Start Up Expense ProductionStartUpExpense	4482000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Operating Expenses OperatingExpenses	76751000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	1656000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	-76639000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Foreign Currency Transaction Gain Loss Before Tax ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax	-398000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Foreign Currency Transaction Gain Loss Before Tax ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax	172000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest InvestmentIncomeInterest	9330000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest InvestmentIncomeInterest	14259000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	6789000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	10121000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Other Nonoperating Income Expense OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	-2222000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Other Nonoperating Income Expense OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	3509000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	1577000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	-68820000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-89215000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-1394000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	-88000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	-173000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	90704000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-67599000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.86
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	-0.64
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.85
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	-0.64
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	105595000	shares
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	105046000	shares
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	106386000	shares
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	105046000	shares
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	90704000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-67599000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	1352741000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Securities Current AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecuritiesCurrent	579340000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Securities Current AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecuritiesCurrent	811506000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Gross Current AccountsReceivableGrossCurrent	293612000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Gross Current AccountsReceivableGrossCurrent	476425000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax	-8064000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax	-1142000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax	2852000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax	-3347000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Derivatives Qualifying As Hedges Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeDerivativesQualifyingAsHedgesNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent	896000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Derivatives Qualifying As Hedges Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeDerivativesQualifyingAsHedgesNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent	-58000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent	-4316000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent	-4547000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	86388000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	-72146000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	929355000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable	3331000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable	1386000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Net Current AccountsReceivableNetCurrent	290281000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Net Current AccountsReceivableNetCurrent	475039000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Accounts Receivable Unbilled And Retainage Before Allowance For Credit Losses AccountsReceivableUnbilledAndRetainageBeforeAllowanceForCreditLosses	122332000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Accounts Receivable Unbilled And Retainage Before Allowance For Credit Losses AccountsReceivableUnbilledAndRetainageBeforeAllowanceForCreditLosses	183473000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Accounts Receivable Unbilled And Retainage Allowance For Credit Loss AccountsReceivableUnbilledAndRetainageAllowanceForCreditLoss	1223000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Accounts Receivable Unbilled And Retainage Allowance For Credit Loss AccountsReceivableUnbilledAndRetainageAllowanceForCreditLoss	0	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Accounts Receivable Unbilled And Retainage After Allowance For Credit Loss AccountsReceivableUnbilledAndRetainageAfterAllowanceForCreditLoss	121109000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Accounts Receivable Unbilled And Retainage After Allowance For Credit Loss AccountsReceivableUnbilledAndRetainageAfterAllowanceForCreditLoss	183473000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Inventory Net InventoryNet	479792000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Net InventoryNet	443513000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Inventory For Long Term Contracts Or Programs InventoryForLongTermContractsOrPrograms	44718000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Inventory For Long Term Contracts Or Programs InventoryForLongTermContractsOrPrograms	53583000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Project Assets Current ProjectAssetsCurrent	403000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Project Assets Current ProjectAssetsCurrent	3524000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Prepaid Expense And Other Assets Current PrepaidExpenseAndOtherAssetsCurrent	302845000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Prepaid Expense And Other Assets Current PrepaidExpenseAndOtherAssetsCurrent	276455000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Assets Current AssetsCurrent	2747843000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Assets Current AssetsCurrent	3599834000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	2244175000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	2181149000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Pv Solar Power Systems Net PVSolarPowerSystemsNet	470709000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Pv Solar Power Systems Net PVSolarPowerSystemsNet	476977000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Accrued Liabilities Current AccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	296796000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Liabilities Current AccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	351260000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Accounts Payable Current AccountsPayableCurrent	173762000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Payable Current AccountsPayableCurrent	218081000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Accrued Income Taxes Current AccruedIncomeTaxesCurrent	8287000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Income Taxes Current AccruedIncomeTaxesCurrent	17010000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Project Assets Noncurrent ProjectAssetsNoncurrent	388511000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Project Assets Noncurrent ProjectAssetsNoncurrent	333596000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Assets Net DeferredIncomeTaxAssetsNet	213600000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Assets Net DeferredIncomeTaxAssetsNet	130771000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Restricted DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleRestricted	246410000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Restricted DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleRestricted	223785000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	14462000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	14462000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Intangible Assets Net Excluding Goodwill IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill	63918000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Intangible Assets Net Excluding Goodwill IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill	64543000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Inventory Noncurrent InventoryNoncurrent	182259000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Noncurrent InventoryNoncurrent	160646000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Other Assets Noncurrent OtherAssetsNoncurrent	377254000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Noncurrent OtherAssetsNoncurrent	329926000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Assets Assets	6949141000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Assets Assets	7515689000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations Current LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent	81807000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations Current LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent	17510000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Deferred Revenue Current DeferredRevenueCurrent	136998000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Revenue Current DeferredRevenueCurrent	323217000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Litigation Reserve Current LitigationReserveCurrent	13000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Litigation Reserve Current LitigationReserveCurrent	363000000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Current OtherLiabilitiesCurrent	21785000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Current OtherLiabilitiesCurrent	28130000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Liabilities Current LiabilitiesCurrent	732435000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Current LiabilitiesCurrent	1318208000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Solar Module Collection And Recycling Liability SolarModuleCollectionAndRecyclingLiability	138009000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Solar Module Collection And Recycling Liability SolarModuleCollectionAndRecyclingLiability	137761000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations	390588000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations	454187000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Noncurrent OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent	519487000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Noncurrent OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent	508766000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Liabilities Liabilities	1780519000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Liabilities	2418922000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Commitments And Contingencies CommitmentsAndContingencies		USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Commitments And Contingencies CommitmentsAndContingencies		USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Common Stock Value CommonStockValue	106000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Value CommonStockValue	105000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Additional Paid In Capital Common Stock AdditionalPaidInCapitalCommonStock	2844055000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Additional Paid In Capital Common Stock AdditionalPaidInCapitalCommonStock	2849376000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Retained Earnings Accumulated Deficit RetainedEarningsAccumulatedDeficit	2408111000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Retained Earnings Accumulated Deficit RetainedEarningsAccumulatedDeficit	2326620000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	-83650000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	-79334000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	5168622000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	5096767000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Liabilities And Stockholders Equity LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity	6949141000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities And Stockholders Equity LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity	7515689000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	5096767000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Cumulative Effect Of New Accounting Principle In Period Of Adoption CumulativeEffectOfNewAccountingPrincipleInPeriodOfAdoption	-9213000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	90704000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent	-4316000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Share Based Compensation StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensation	1000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Adjustments Related To Tax Withholding For Share Based Compensation AdjustmentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation	12679000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Sharebased Compensation Requisite Service Period Recognition Value AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue	7358000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	5168622000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	5212403000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-67599000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent	-4547000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Share Based Compensation StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensation	1000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Adjustments Related To Tax Withholding For Share Based Compensation AdjustmentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation	15664000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Sharebased Compensation Requisite Service Period Recognition Value AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue	4567000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	5129161000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	90704000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-67599000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Depreciation Amortization And Accretion Net DepreciationAmortizationAndAccretionNet	56279000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Depreciation Amortization And Accretion Net DepreciationAmortizationAndAccretionNet	48872000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Asset Impairment Charges AssetImpairmentCharges	1288000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Asset Impairment Charges AssetImpairmentCharges	352000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	7204000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	5019000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	-88000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	-173000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Foreign Currency Transaction Gain Loss Unrealized ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossUnrealized	18000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Foreign Currency Transaction Gain Loss Unrealized ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossUnrealized	-800000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Deferred Income Taxes And Tax Credits DeferredIncomeTaxesAndTaxCredits	-80404000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Deferred Income Taxes And Tax Credits DeferredIncomeTaxesAndTaxCredits	397000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Realized Gain Loss DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleRealizedGainLoss	15088000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Realized Gain Loss DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleRealizedGainLoss	15016000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Other Operating Activities Cash Flow Statement OtherOperatingActivitiesCashFlowStatement	16606000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Other Operating Activities Cash Flow Statement OtherOperatingActivitiesCashFlowStatement	239000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	-242680000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	82896000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Prepaid Deferred Expense And Other Assets IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidDeferredExpenseAndOtherAssets	13387000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Prepaid Deferred Expense And Other Assets IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidDeferredExpenseAndOtherAssets	28400000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Increase Decrease In Inventory And Bos Parts IncreaseDecreaseInInventoryAndBosParts	48896000	USD
CY2019Q1	fslr	Increase Decrease In Inventory And Bos Parts IncreaseDecreaseInInventoryAndBosParts	87102000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Increase Decrease In Project Assets And Pv Solar Power Systems IncreaseDecreaseInProjectAssetsAndPVSolarPowerSystems	50756000	USD
CY2019Q1	fslr	Increase Decrease In Project Assets And Pv Solar Power Systems IncreaseDecreaseInProjectAssetsAndPVSolarPowerSystems	73402000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Assets IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingAssets	54925000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Assets IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingAssets	-26481000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Income Taxes Payable Net Of Income Taxes Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInIncomeTaxesPayableNetOfIncomeTaxesReceivable	-9425000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Income Taxes Payable Net Of Income Taxes Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInIncomeTaxesPayableNetOfIncomeTaxesReceivable	-16512000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayable	-38161000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayable	-15066000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accrued Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccruedLiabilities	-609218000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accrued Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccruedLiabilities	53000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Other Increase Decreasein Accrued Solar Module Collectionand Recycling Liability OtherIncreaseDecreaseinAccruedSolarModuleCollectionandRecyclingLiability	565000	USD
CY2019Q1	fslr	Other Increase Decreasein Accrued Solar Module Collectionand Recycling Liability OtherIncreaseDecreaseinAccruedSolarModuleCollectionandRecyclingLiability	167000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities	-504864000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities	-303440000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Property Plant And Equipment PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment	112546000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Property Plant And Equipment PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment	149168000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Available For Sale Securities Debt PaymentsToAcquireAvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebt	405794000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Available For Sale Securities Debt PaymentsToAcquireAvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebt	260715000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Proceeds From Maturities Prepayments And Calls Of Available For Sale Securities ProceedsFromMaturitiesPrepaymentsAndCallsOfAvailableForSaleSecurities	628936000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Proceeds From Maturities Prepayments And Calls Of Available For Sale Securities ProceedsFromMaturitiesPrepaymentsAndCallsOfAvailableForSaleSecurities	270091000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Other Investing Activities PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities	14150000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Other Investing Activities PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities	-21000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	96446000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	-139771000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Repayments Of Long Term Debt RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	325000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Repayments Of Long Term Debt RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	2703000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Long Term Debt ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt	0	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Long Term Debt ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt	106503000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Payments Related To Tax Withholding For Share Based Compensation PaymentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation	12679000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Payments Related To Tax Withholding For Share Based Compensation PaymentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation	15663000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Proceeds From Payments For Other Financing Activities ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities	-436000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Proceeds From Payments For Other Financing Activities ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities	-299000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	-13440000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	87838000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Effect Of Exchange Rate On Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	-5774000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Effect Of Exchange Rate On Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	-625000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease Including Exchange Rate Effect CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecreaseIncludingExchangeRateEffect	-427632000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease Including Exchange Rate Effect CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecreaseIncludingExchangeRateEffect	-355998000	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
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	1018878000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	1206625000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Capital Expenditures Incurred But Not Yet Paid CapitalExpendituresIncurredButNotYetPaid	76298000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Capital Expenditures Incurred But Not Yet Paid CapitalExpendituresIncurredButNotYetPaid	135520000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	929355000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	1352741000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Securities Current AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecuritiesCurrent	579340000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Securities Current AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecuritiesCurrent	811506000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Investments And Cash InvestmentsAndCash	1508695000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Investments And Cash InvestmentsAndCash	2164247000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	929355000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	1352741000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	47915000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	13697000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents Noncurrent RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent	41608000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents Noncurrent RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent	80072000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	1018878000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	1446510000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Available For Sale Securities Debt ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebt	130800000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Allowance For Credit Loss Period Increase Decrease DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleAllowanceForCreditLossPeriodIncreaseDecrease	180000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Available For Sale Debt Securities Amortized Cost Basis AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAmortizedCostBasis	586628000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Available For Sale Debt Securities Accumulated Gross Unrealized Gain Before Tax AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax	113000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Available For Sale Debt Securities Accumulated Gross Unrealized Loss Before Tax AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax	7186000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Allowance For Credit Loss DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleAllowanceForCreditLoss	215000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Securities Current AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecuritiesCurrent	579340000	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
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Allowance For Credit Loss DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleAllowanceForCreditLoss	0	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Allowance For Credit Loss Securities Sold DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleAllowanceForCreditLossSecuritiesSold	-172000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Allowance For Credit Loss DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleAllowanceForCreditLoss	215000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities Within One Year Amortized Cost AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesWithinOneYearAmortizedCost	320765000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Debt Securities Availableforsale Maturities Rolling Year One Through Two DebtSecuritiesAvailableforsaleMaturitiesRollingYearOneThroughTwo	157337000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Debt Securities Availableforsale Maturities Rolling Year Two Through Three DebtSecuritiesAvailableforsaleMaturitiesRollingYearTwoThroughThree	101238000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Securities Current AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecuritiesCurrent	579340000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Product Minimum Service Life ProductMinimumServiceLife	P25Y
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Gross Current AccountsReceivableGrossCurrent	293612000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Gross Current AccountsReceivableGrossCurrent	476425000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable Current AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent	3331000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable Current AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent	1386000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Net Current AccountsReceivableNetCurrent	290281000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Net Current AccountsReceivableNetCurrent	475039000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Secured Accounts Receivable SecuredAccountsReceivable	48100000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Secured Accounts Receivable SecuredAccountsReceivable	44900000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Unbilled Receivables Current UnbilledReceivablesCurrent	96755000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Unbilled Receivables Current UnbilledReceivablesCurrent	162057000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Contract Receivable Retainage ContractReceivableRetainage	25577000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Contract Receivable Retainage ContractReceivableRetainage	21416000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Accounts Receivable Unbilled And Retainage Allowance For Credit Loss AccountsReceivableUnbilledAndRetainageAllowanceForCreditLoss	1223000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Accounts Receivable Unbilled And Retainage Allowance For Credit Loss AccountsReceivableUnbilledAndRetainageAllowanceForCreditLoss	0	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Accounts Receivable Unbilled And Retainage After Allowance For Credit Loss AccountsReceivableUnbilledAndRetainageAfterAllowanceForCreditLoss	121109000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Accounts Receivable Unbilled And Retainage After Allowance For Credit Loss AccountsReceivableUnbilledAndRetainageAfterAllowanceForCreditLoss	183473000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable Current AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent	1386000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Accounts Receivable Unbilled And Retainage Allowance For Credit Loss AccountsReceivableUnbilledAndRetainageAllowanceForCreditLoss	0	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Accounts Receivable Allowance For Credit Loss Cumulative Effect Adjustment For Adoption Of Asu201613 AccountsReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossCumulativeEffectAdjustmentForAdoptionOfASU201613	171000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Accounts Receivable Unbilled And Retainage Allowance For Credit Loss Cumulative Effect Adjustment For Adoption Of Asu201613 AccountsReceivableUnbilledAndRetainageAllowanceForCreditLossCumulativeEffectAdjustmentForAdoptionOfASU201613	459000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable Period Increase Decrease AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivablePeriodIncreaseDecrease	2026000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Accounts Receivable Unbilled And Retainage Allowance For Credit Loss Period Increase Decrease AccountsReceivableUnbilledAndRetainageAllowanceForCreditLossPeriodIncreaseDecrease	764000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable Write Offs AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableWriteOffs	252000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Accounts Receivable Unbilled And Retainage Allowance For Credit Loss Writeoff AccountsReceivableUnbilledAndRetainageAllowanceForCreditLossWriteoff	0	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable Current AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent	3331000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Accounts Receivable Unbilled And Retainage Allowance For Credit Loss AccountsReceivableUnbilledAndRetainageAllowanceForCreditLoss	1223000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Inventory Raw Materials Net Of Reserves InventoryRawMaterialsNetOfReserves	255849000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Raw Materials Net Of Reserves InventoryRawMaterialsNetOfReserves	248756000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Inventory Work In Process Net Of Reserves InventoryWorkInProcessNetOfReserves	63938000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Work In Process Net Of Reserves InventoryWorkInProcessNetOfReserves	59924000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Inventory Finished Goods Net Of Reserves InventoryFinishedGoodsNetOfReserves	342264000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Finished Goods Net Of Reserves InventoryFinishedGoodsNetOfReserves	295479000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Inventory Current And Noncurrent Net InventoryCurrentAndNoncurrentNet	662051000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Inventory Current And Noncurrent Net InventoryCurrentAndNoncurrentNet	604159000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Inventory Net InventoryNet	479792000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Net InventoryNet	443513000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Inventory Noncurrent InventoryNoncurrent	182259000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Noncurrent InventoryNoncurrent	160646000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Prepaid Expense Current PrepaidExpenseCurrent	145985000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Prepaid Expense Current PrepaidExpenseCurrent	137927000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Prepaid Taxes PrepaidTaxes	51416000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Prepaid Taxes PrepaidTaxes	47811000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	47915000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	13697000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Indirect Tax Receivables Current IndirectTaxReceivablesCurrent	29300000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Indirect Tax Receivables Current IndirectTaxReceivablesCurrent	29908000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Derivative Assets Current DerivativeAssetsCurrent	2846000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Assets Current DerivativeAssetsCurrent	1199000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Notes And Loans Receivable Net Current NotesAndLoansReceivableNetCurrent	0	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Notes And Loans Receivable Net Current NotesAndLoansReceivableNetCurrent	23873000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Other Assets Current OtherAssetsCurrent	25383000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Current OtherAssetsCurrent	22040000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Prepaid Expense And Other Assets Current PrepaidExpenseAndOtherAssetsCurrent	302845000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Prepaid Expense And Other Assets Current PrepaidExpenseAndOtherAssetsCurrent	276455000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Accumulated Depreciation Pv Solar Power Systems AccumulatedDepreciationPVSolarPowerSystems	53027000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Pv Solar Power Systems Net PVSolarPowerSystemsNet	470709000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	3372625000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	3567231000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	1128450000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	1386082000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	2244175000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	2181149000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Pv Solar Power Systems Gross PVSolarPowerSystemsGross	529396000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Pv Solar Power Systems Gross PVSolarPowerSystemsGross	530004000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Accumulated Depreciation Pv Solar Power Systems AccumulatedDepreciationPVSolarPowerSystems	58687000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Pv Solar Power Systems Net PVSolarPowerSystemsNet	476977000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Project Assets Developmentand Land Costs ProjectAssetsDevelopmentandLandCosts	234404000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Project Assets Developmentand Land Costs ProjectAssetsDevelopmentandLandCosts	254466000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Project Assets Construction Costs ProjectAssetsConstructionCosts	154510000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Project Assets Construction Costs ProjectAssetsConstructionCosts	82654000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Total Project Assets Currentand Noncurrent TotalProjectAssetsCurrentandNoncurrent	388914000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Total Project Assets Currentand Noncurrent TotalProjectAssetsCurrentandNoncurrent	337120000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Project Assets Current ProjectAssetsCurrent	403000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Project Assets Current ProjectAssetsCurrent	3524000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Project Assets Noncurrent ProjectAssetsNoncurrent	388511000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Project Assets Noncurrent ProjectAssetsNoncurrent	333596000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	10121000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Interest Costs Incurred InterestCostsIncurred	7104000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Interest Costs Incurred InterestCostsIncurred	10948000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	6789000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Operating Lease Right Of Use Asset OperatingLeaseRightOfUseAsset	160749000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Right Of Use Asset OperatingLeaseRightOfUseAsset	145711000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Advanced Payments For Raw Materials Noncurrent AdvancedPaymentsForRawMaterialsNoncurrent	105571000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Advanced Payments For Raw Materials Noncurrent AdvancedPaymentsForRawMaterialsNoncurrent	59806000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents Noncurrent RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent	41608000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents Noncurrent RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent	80072000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Indirect Tax Receivables Noncurrent IndirectTaxReceivablesNoncurrent	10934000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Indirect Tax Receivables Noncurrent IndirectTaxReceivablesNoncurrent	9446000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Notes And Loans Receivable Net Noncurrent NotesAndLoansReceivableNetNoncurrent	8071000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Notes And Loans Receivable Net Noncurrent NotesAndLoansReceivableNetNoncurrent	8194000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Income Tax Receivable IncomeTaxReceivable	4110000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Income Tax Receivable IncomeTaxReceivable	4106000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Equity Method Investments EquityMethodInvestments	2702000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Equity Method Investments EquityMethodInvestments	2812000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Derivative Assets Noncurrent DerivativeAssetsNoncurrent	746000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Assets Noncurrent DerivativeAssetsNoncurrent	139000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Other Assets Miscellaneous Noncurrent OtherAssetsMiscellaneousNoncurrent	42763000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Miscellaneous Noncurrent OtherAssetsMiscellaneousNoncurrent	19640000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Other Assets Noncurrent OtherAssetsNoncurrent	377254000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Noncurrent OtherAssetsNoncurrent	329926000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	14462000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Goodwill Period Increase Decrease GoodwillPeriodIncreaseDecrease	0	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	14462000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Gross FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross	114230000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Accumulated Amortization FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization	50312000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Intangible Assets Net Excluding Goodwill IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill	63918000	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
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Amortization Of Intangible Assets AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	2600000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Amortization Of Intangible Assets AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	2500000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Accrued Project Assets AccruedProjectAssets	81461000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Accrued Project Assets AccruedProjectAssets	91971000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Accrued Property Plant And Equipment AccruedPropertyPlantAndEquipment	48233000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Accrued Property Plant And Equipment AccruedPropertyPlantAndEquipment	42834000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Employee Related Liabilities Current EmployeeRelatedLiabilitiesCurrent	39625000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Employee Related Liabilities Current EmployeeRelatedLiabilitiesCurrent	65170000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Accrued Inventory AccruedInventory	37198000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Accrued Inventory AccruedInventory	39366000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Product Warranty Accrual Classified Current ProductWarrantyAccrualClassifiedCurrent	20399000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Product Warranty Accrual Classified Current ProductWarrantyAccrualClassifiedCurrent	20291000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Other Accrued Liabilities Current OtherAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	69880000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Accrued Liabilities Current OtherAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	91628000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Accrued Liabilities Current AccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	296796000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Liabilities Current AccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	351260000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Current OperatingLeaseLiabilityCurrent	11824000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Current OperatingLeaseLiabilityCurrent	11102000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Derivative Liabilities Current DerivativeLiabilitiesCurrent	1612000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Liabilities Current DerivativeLiabilitiesCurrent	2582000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Contingent Consideration Liability Current ContingentConsiderationLiabilityCurrent	200000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Contingent Consideration Liability Current ContingentConsiderationLiabilityCurrent	2395000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Other Sundry Liabilities Current OtherSundryLiabilitiesCurrent	8149000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Sundry Liabilities Current OtherSundryLiabilitiesCurrent	12051000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Current OtherLiabilitiesCurrent	21785000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Current OtherLiabilitiesCurrent	28130000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Noncurrent OperatingLeaseLiabilityNoncurrent	125253000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Noncurrent OperatingLeaseLiabilityNoncurrent	112515000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Product Warranty Accrual Noncurrent ProductWarrantyAccrualNoncurrent	104102000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Product Warranty Accrual Noncurrent ProductWarrantyAccrualNoncurrent	109506000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Accrued Income Taxes Noncurrent AccruedIncomeTaxesNoncurrent	92519000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Income Taxes Noncurrent AccruedIncomeTaxesNoncurrent	90201000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Operating Lease Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term1 OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageRemainingLeaseTerm1	P16Y
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Of2017 Transition Tax For Accumulated Foreign Earnings Liability Noncurrent TaxCutsAndJobsActOf2017TransitionTaxForAccumulatedForeignEarningsLiabilityNoncurrent	70047000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Of2017 Transition Tax For Accumulated Foreign Earnings Liability Noncurrent TaxCutsAndJobsActOf2017TransitionTaxForAccumulatedForeignEarningsLiabilityNoncurrent	70047000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Deferred Revenue Noncurrent DeferredRevenueNoncurrent	69505000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Revenue Noncurrent DeferredRevenueNoncurrent	71438000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Derivative Liabilities Noncurrent DerivativeLiabilitiesNoncurrent	9544000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Liabilities Noncurrent DerivativeLiabilitiesNoncurrent	7439000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Contingentconsiderationnoncurrent Contingentconsiderationnoncurrent	4500000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Contingentconsiderationnoncurrent Contingentconsiderationnoncurrent	4500000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Other Sundry Liabilities Noncurrent OtherSundryLiabilitiesNoncurrent	44017000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Sundry Liabilities Noncurrent OtherSundryLiabilitiesNoncurrent	43120000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Noncurrent OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent	519487000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Noncurrent OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent	508766000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Operating Lease Cost OperatingLeaseCost	5283000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Operating Lease Cost OperatingLeaseCost	4178000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Variable Lease Cost VariableLeaseCost	666000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Variable Lease Cost VariableLeaseCost	749000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Short Term Lease Cost ShortTermLeaseCost	961000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Short Term Lease Cost ShortTermLeaseCost	2842000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Lease Cost LeaseCost	5805000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Lease Cost LeaseCost	8874000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Operating Lease Payments OperatingLeasePayments	4897000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Operating Lease Payments OperatingLeasePayments	4947000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Right Of Use Asset Obtained In Exchange For Operating Lease Liability RightOfUseAssetObtainedInExchangeForOperatingLeaseLiability	17576000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Right Of Use Asset Obtained In Exchange For Operating Lease Liability RightOfUseAssetObtainedInExchangeForOperatingLeaseLiability	149631000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Operating Lease Right Of Use Asset OperatingLeaseRightOfUseAsset	160749000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Right Of Use Asset OperatingLeaseRightOfUseAsset	145711000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Current OperatingLeaseLiabilityCurrent	11824000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Current OperatingLeaseLiabilityCurrent	11102000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Noncurrent OperatingLeaseLiabilityNoncurrent	125253000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Noncurrent OperatingLeaseLiabilityNoncurrent	112515000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term1 OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageRemainingLeaseTerm1	P15Y
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Operating Lease Weighted Average Discount Rate Percent OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageDiscountRatePercent	0.040
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Weighted Average Discount Rate Percent OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageDiscountRatePercent	0.043
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Remainder Of Fiscal Year LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsRemainderOfFiscalYear	11534000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Two LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearTwo	15473000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Three LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearThree	14507000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Four LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearFour	14017000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Five LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearFive	13731000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due After Year Five LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueAfterYearFive	108763000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDue	178025000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Undiscounted Excess Amount LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityUndiscountedExcessAmount	40948000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability OperatingLeaseLiability	137077000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Carrying Amount DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount	483395000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Carrying Amount DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount	482892000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Unamortized Discount Premium And Debt Issuance Costs Net DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscountPremiumAndDebtIssuanceCostsNet	11000000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Unamortized Discount Premium And Debt Issuance Costs Net DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscountPremiumAndDebtIssuanceCostsNet	11195000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Debt Longterm And Shortterm Combined Amount DebtLongtermAndShorttermCombinedAmount	472395000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Debt Longterm And Shortterm Combined Amount DebtLongtermAndShorttermCombinedAmount	471697000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations Current LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent	81807000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations Current LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligationsCurrent	17510000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations	390588000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt And Capital Lease Obligations LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations	454187000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Four LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearFour	18393000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Five LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearFive	19321000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal Remainder Of Fiscal Year LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalRemainderOfFiscalYear	17767000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Two LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearTwo	77917000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Three LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearThree	19401000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal After Year Five LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalAfterYearFive	330596000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Long Term Debt LongTermDebt	483395000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Bank Guaranteesand Lettersof Credit BankGuaranteesandLettersofCredit	9900000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Surety Bonds SuretyBonds	89000000.0	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Surety Bond Capacity SuretyBondCapacity	626400000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual StandardProductWarrantyAccrual	129797000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual StandardProductWarrantyAccrual	220692000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Product Warranty Accrual Warranties Issued ProductWarrantyAccrualWarrantiesIssued	2285000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Product Warranty Accrual Warranties Issued ProductWarrantyAccrualWarrantiesIssued	5116000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Payments StandardProductWarrantyAccrualPayments	6562000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Payments StandardProductWarrantyAccrualPayments	3078000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Preexisting Increase Decrease StandardProductWarrantyAccrualPreexistingIncreaseDecrease	-1019000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Preexisting Increase Decrease StandardProductWarrantyAccrualPreexistingIncreaseDecrease	-5489000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual StandardProductWarrantyAccrual	124501000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual StandardProductWarrantyAccrual	217241000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Current StandardProductWarrantyAccrualCurrent	20399000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Guarantor Obligations Carrying Value Non Current GuarantorObligationsCarryingValueNonCurrent	4200000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Current StandardProductWarrantyAccrualCurrent	31013000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Noncurrent StandardProductWarrantyAccrualNoncurrent	104102000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Noncurrent StandardProductWarrantyAccrualNoncurrent	186228000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Estimated Rateof Returnfor Module Warranty EstimatedRateofReturnforModuleWarranty	0.01
CY2020Q1	fslr	Percentage Point Changein Estimated Rateof Returnof Module Warranty PercentagePointChangeinEstimatedRateofReturnofModuleWarranty	0.01
CY2020Q1	fslr	Estimated Changein Module Warrantyfrom Sensitivity Analysis EstimatedChangeinModuleWarrantyfromSensitivityAnalysis	94500000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Percentage Point Changein Estimated Rateof Returnof Balanceof Systems Warranty PercentagePointChangeinEstimatedRateofReturnofBalanceofSystemsWarranty	0.01
CY2020Q1	fslr	Energy Performance Testing Liability EnergyPerformanceTestingLiability	5100000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Energy Performance Testing Liability EnergyPerformanceTestingLiability	4600000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Effective Availability Guarantee Liability EffectiveAvailabilityGuaranteeLiability	500000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Effective Availability Guarantee Liability EffectiveAvailabilityGuaranteeLiability	600000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Guarantee Obligations Current Carrying Value GuaranteeObligationsCurrentCarryingValue	800000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Guarantor Obligations Carrying Value Non Current GuarantorObligationsCarryingValueNonCurrent	4200000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Guarantee Obligations Maximum Exposure GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposure	152800000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Guarantor Obligations Potential Insurance Recoveries GuarantorObligationsPotentialInsuranceRecoveries	84900000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Project Acquisition Contingent Consideration Liability Current ProjectAcquisitionContingentConsiderationLiabilityCurrent	200000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Project Acquisition Contingent Consideration Liability Current ProjectAcquisitionContingentConsiderationLiabilityCurrent	2400000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Project Acquisition Contingent Consideration Liability Noncurrent ProjectAcquisitionContingentConsiderationLiabilityNoncurrent	4500000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Project Acquisition Contingent Consideration Liability Noncurrent ProjectAcquisitionContingentConsiderationLiabilityNoncurrent	4500000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Solar Module Collection And Recycling Liability SolarModuleCollectionAndRecyclingLiability	138000000.0	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Solar Module Collection And Recycling Liability SolarModuleCollectionAndRecyclingLiability	137800000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Percentageincreaseinannualizedinflationrate Percentageincreaseinannualizedinflationrate	0.01
CY2020Q1	fslr	Estimated Increasein Solar Module Collection Recycling Liabilityfrom Sensitivity Analysis EstimatedIncreaseinSolarModuleCollectionRecyclingLiabilityfromSensitivityAnalysis	25400000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Percentagedecreaseinannualizedinflationrate Percentagedecreaseinannualizedinflationrate	0.01
CY2020Q1	fslr	Estimated Decreasein Solar Module Collection Recycling Liabilityfrom Sensitivity Analysis EstimatedDecreaseinSolarModuleCollectionRecyclingLiabilityfromSensitivityAnalysis	22300000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	532124000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	531978000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Project Changein Estimate Disclosure Threshold ProjectChangeinEstimateDisclosureThreshold	1000000.0	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Numberof Projectswith Changesin Estimates NumberofProjectswithChangesinEstimates	2	Projects
CY2019Q1	fslr	Numberof Projectswith Changesin Estimates NumberofProjectswithChangesinEstimates	8	Projects
CY2020Q1	fslr	Increase Decreasein Revenuefrom Net Changesin Transaction Price IncreaseDecreaseinRevenuefromNetChangesinTransactionPrice	-762000	USD
CY2019Q1	fslr	Increase Decreasein Revenuefrom Net Changesin Transaction Price IncreaseDecreaseinRevenuefromNetChangesinTransactionPrice	6114000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Increase Decreasein Revenuefrom Net Changesin Input Cost Estimates IncreaseDecreaseinRevenuefromNetChangesinInputCostEstimates	1885000	USD
CY2019Q1	fslr	Increase Decreasein Revenuefrom Net Changesin Input Cost Estimates IncreaseDecreaseinRevenuefromNetChangesinInputCostEstimates	-15950000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Increase Decreasein Revenuefrom Net Changesin Estimates IncreaseDecreaseinRevenuefromNetChangesinEstimates	1123000	USD
CY2019Q1	fslr	Increase Decreasein Revenuefrom Net Changesin Estimates IncreaseDecreaseinRevenuefromNetChangesinEstimates	-9836000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Net Changein Estimateasa Percentageof Aggregate Revenuefor Associated Projects NetChangeinEstimateasaPercentageofAggregateRevenueforAssociatedProjects	0.003
CY2019Q1	fslr	Net Changein Estimateasa Percentageof Aggregate Revenuefor Associated Projects NetChangeinEstimateasaPercentageofAggregateRevenueforAssociatedProjects	-0.005
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Unbilled Contracts Receivable UnbilledContractsReceivable	109054000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Unbilled Contracts Receivable UnbilledContractsReceivable	162057000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Contract Receivable Retainage ContractReceivableRetainage	25577000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Contract Receivable Retainage ContractReceivableRetainage	21416000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Accounts Receivable Unbilled And Retainage Allowance For Credit Loss AccountsReceivableUnbilledAndRetainageAllowanceForCreditLoss	1223000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Accounts Receivable Unbilled And Retainage Allowance For Credit Loss AccountsReceivableUnbilledAndRetainageAllowanceForCreditLoss	0	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Accounts Receivable Unbilled And Retainage Total Current And Noncurrent After Allowance For Credit Losses AccountsReceivableUnbilledAndRetainageTotalCurrentAndNoncurrentAfterAllowanceForCreditLosses	133408000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Accounts Receivable Unbilled And Retainage Total Current And Noncurrent After Allowance For Credit Losses AccountsReceivableUnbilledAndRetainageTotalCurrentAndNoncurrentAfterAllowanceForCreditLosses	183473000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Contract Asset Net Change ContractAssetNetChange	-50065000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Contract Asset Percent Change ContractAssetPercentChange	-0.27
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Deferred Revenue DeferredRevenue	206503000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Revenue DeferredRevenue	394655000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Contract Liability Net Change ContractLiabilityNetChange	-188152000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Contract Liability Percent Change ContractLiabilityPercentChange	-0.48
CY2020Q1	fslr	Unbilled Receivables Noncurrent UnbilledReceivablesNoncurrent	12300000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Deferred Revenue Noncurrent DeferredRevenueNoncurrent	69500000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Revenue Noncurrent DeferredRevenueNoncurrent	71400000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Contract Asset Net Change ContractAssetNetChange	-50100000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Contract Liability Net Change ContractLiabilityNetChange	-188200000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Liability Revenue Recognized ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRevenueRecognized	268200000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Liability Revenue Recognized ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRevenueRecognized	46700000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	106386000	shares
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	7204000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	5019000	USD
CY2020Q1	fslr	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Capitalized In Inventory EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationCapitalizedInInventory	1300000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Capitalized In Inventory EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationCapitalizedInInventory	1200000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Continuing Operations EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations	-56.57
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Continuing Operations EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations	0.02
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	0.21
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Significant Change In Unrecognized Tax Benefits Is Reasonably Possible Amount Of Unrecorded Benefit SignificantChangeInUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIsReasonablyPossibleAmountOfUnrecordedBenefit	58600000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	90704000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-67599000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	105595000	shares
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	105046000	shares
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	105595000	shares
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	105046000	shares
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment WeightedAverageNumberDilutedSharesOutstandingAdjustment	791000	shares
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment WeightedAverageNumberDilutedSharesOutstandingAdjustment	0	shares
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	105046000	shares
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	0.86
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	-0.64
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	0.85
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	-0.64
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount	0	shares
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount	864000	shares
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Reclassification From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Current Period Before Tax ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodBeforeTax	14881000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Reclassification From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Current Period Before Tax ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodBeforeTax	15016000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Number Of Reportable Segments NumberOfReportableSegments	2	segments
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	532124000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	531978000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	90338000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	112000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Cost Depreciation Amortization And Depletion CostDepreciationAmortizationAndDepletion	50931000	USD
CY2019Q1	us-gaap	Cost Depreciation Amortization And Depletion CostDepreciationAmortizationAndDepletion	43794000	USD
CY2020Q1	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	14462000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	14462000	USD

Files In Submission

Name	View Source	Status
0001274494-20-000014-index-headers.html	Edgar Link	pending
0001274494-20-000014-index.html	Edgar Link	pending
0001274494-20-000014.txt	Edgar Link	pending
0001274494-20-000014-xbrl.zip	Edgar Link	pending
ex1012020-2022epepgran.htm	Edgar Link	pending
ex3101ceocertification.htm	Edgar Link	pending
ex3102cfocertification.htm	Edgar Link	pending
ex3201ceocfocertificat.htm	Edgar Link	pending
FilingSummary.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
Financial_Report.xlsx	Edgar Link	pending
fslr-20200331.htm	Edgar Link	pending
fslr-20200331.xsd	Edgar Link	pending
fslr-20200331_cal.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
fslr-20200331_def.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
fslr-20200331_g1.jpg	Edgar Link	pending
fslr-20200331_htm.xml	Edgar Link	completed
fslr-20200331_lab.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
fslr-20200331_pre.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
fslrlogoa251.jpg	Edgar Link	pending
MetaLinks.json	Edgar Link	pending
R1.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R10.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R11.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R12.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R13.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R14.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R15.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R16.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R17.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R18.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R19.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R2.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R20.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R21.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R22.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R23.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R24.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R25.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R26.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R27.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R28.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R29.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R3.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R30.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R31.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R32.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R33.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R34.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R35.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R36.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R37.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R38.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R39.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R4.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R40.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R41.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R42.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R43.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R44.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R45.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R46.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R47.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R48.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R49.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R5.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R50.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R51.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R52.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R53.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R54.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R55.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R56.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R57.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R58.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R59.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R6.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R60.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R61.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R62.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R63.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R7.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R8.htm	Edgar Link	pending
R9.htm	Edgar Link	pending
report.css	Edgar Link	pending
Show.js	Edgar Link	pending

Create your account

Find Stocks Worth Researching

Deeply Understand Businesses

Value Businesses Intelligently

$FSLR
First Solar Inc Stock $fslr

2020 Q1 Form 10-Q Financial Statement

#000127449420000014 Filed on May 08, 2020

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cashflow Statement

Facts In Submission

Files In Submission

$FSLR First Solar Inc Stock $fslr

2020 Q1 Form 10-Q Financial Statement

#000127449420000014 Filed on May 08, 2020

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cashflow Statement

Facts In Submission

Files In Submission

$FSLR
First Solar Inc Stock $fslr