$FSLR
First Solar Inc Stock $fslr

$fslr Overview Financials Valuation SEC Filings Company Website

2020 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000162828021003343 Filed on February 26, 2021

Income Statement

Concept	2020	2019 Q4	2019
Revenue	$2.711B	$1.399B	$3.063B
YoY Change	-11.48%	102.46%	36.5%
Cost Of Revenue	$2.031B	$1.066B	$2.514B
YoY Change	-19.22%	79.76%	35.75%
Gross Profit	$680.7M	$333.6M	$549.2M
YoY Change	23.94%	239.37%	40.04%
Gross Profit Margin	25.1%	23.84%	17.93%
Selling, General & Admin	$222.9M	$63.00M	$205.5M
YoY Change	8.49%	-4.4%	16.18%
% of Gross Profit	32.75%	18.88%	37.41%
Research & Development	$93.74M	$25.40M	$96.61M
YoY Change	-2.97%	18.69%	14.37%
% of Gross Profit	13.77%	7.61%	17.59%
Depreciation & Amortization	$232.9M	$55.50M	$205.5M
YoY Change	13.33%	33.73%	57.23%
% of Gross Profit	34.22%	16.64%	37.42%
Operating Expenses	$363.2M	$88.40M	$711.0M
YoY Change	-48.92%	1.26%	101.95%
Operating Profit	$317.5M	$245.2M	-$161.8M
YoY Change	-296.24%	2129.09%	-503.32%
Interest Expense	$24.04M	$5.800M	$27.07M
YoY Change	-11.19%	3.57%	4.42%
% of Operating Profit	7.57%	2.37%
Other Income/Expense, Net	-$11.93M	$21.90M	$17.55M
YoY Change	-168.01%	-30.7%	-55.85%
Pretax Income	$22.48M	-$90.20M	-$239.5M
YoY Change	-109.38%	-287.14%	385.37%
Income Tax	-$107.3M	-$30.90M	-$5.480M
% Of Pretax Income	-477.39%
Net Earnings	$398.4M	-$59.40M	-$114.9M
YoY Change	-446.6%	-214.01%	-179.63%
Net Earnings / Revenue	14.69%	-4.24%	-3.75%
Basic Earnings Per Share	$3.76		-$1.09
Diluted Earnings Per Share	$3.73	-$563.6K	-$1.09
COMMON SHARES
Basic Shares Outstanding	105.9M shares	105.4M shares	105.3M shares
Diluted Shares Outstanding	106.7M shares		105.3M shares

Balance Sheet

Concept	2020	2019 Q4	2019
SHORT-TERM ASSETS
Cash & Short-Term Investments	$1.747B	$2.164B	$2.164B
YoY Change	-19.27%	-15.04%	-15.04%
Cash & Equivalents	$0.00	$1.353B	$7.300M
Short-Term Investments	$520.1M	$811.5M	$811.5M
Other Short-Term Assets	$405.6M	$22.04M	$279.7M
YoY Change	45.01%	-43.78%	-10.24%
Inventory	$567.6M	$443.5M	$443.5M
Prepaid Expenses		$137.9M
Receivables	$292.5M	$475.0M	$658.5M
Other Receivables	$1.800M	$53.80M	$53.80M
Total Short-Term Assets	$3.015B	$3.600B	$3.600B
YoY Change	-16.26%	-6.73%	-6.73%
LONG-TERM ASSETS
Property, Plant & Equipment	$2.872B	$2.181B	$2.804B
YoY Change	2.44%	24.2%	35.78%
Goodwill		$14.46M
YoY Change		0.0%
Intangibles		$64.54M
YoY Change		-12.97%
Long-Term Investments		$2.812M	$2.800M
YoY Change		-11.74%	-12.5%
Other Assets	$1.136B	$329.9M	$1.009B
YoY Change	12.66%	233.67%	-5.74%
Total Long-Term Assets	$4.094B	$3.916B	$3.916B
YoY Change	4.56%	20.05%	20.05%
TOTAL ASSETS
Total Short-Term Assets	$3.015B	$3.600B	$3.600B
Total Long-Term Assets	$4.094B	$3.916B	$3.916B
Total Assets	$7.109B	$7.516B	$7.516B
YoY Change	-5.41%	5.54%	5.54%
SHORT-TERM LIABILITIES
YoY Change
Accounts Payable	$183.3M	$218.1M	$218.1M
YoY Change	-15.96%	-6.52%	-6.52%
Accrued Expenses	$302.2M	$351.3M	$705.1M
YoY Change	-57.14%	-20.45%	70.36%
Deferred Revenue
YoY Change
Short-Term Debt	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
YoY Change
Long-Term Debt Due	$41.50M	$17.51M	$17.50M
YoY Change	137.14%	212.68%	212.5%
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$847.4M	$1.318B	$1.318B
YoY Change	-35.72%	55.92%	55.91%
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
Long-Term Debt	$237.7M	$454.2M	$454.2M
YoY Change	-47.67%	-1.52%	-1.52%
Other Long-Term Liabilities	$502.9M	$508.8M	$646.5M
YoY Change	-22.21%	8.75%	7.34%
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$740.6M	$963.0M	$1.101B
YoY Change	-32.72%	105.83%	3.5%
TOTAL LIABILITIES
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$847.4M	$1.318B	$1.318B
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$740.6M	$963.0M	$1.101B
Total Liabilities	$1.588B	$2.419B	$2.419B
YoY Change	-34.35%	26.71%	26.71%
SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY
Retained Earnings		$2.327B
YoY Change		-4.71%
Common Stock		$2.849B
YoY Change		0.86%
Preferred Stock
YoY Change
Treasury Stock (at cost)
YoY Change
Treasury Stock Shares
Shareholders Equity	$5.521B	$5.097B	$5.097B
YoY Change
Total Liabilities & Shareholders Equity	$7.109B	$7.516B	$7.516B
YoY Change	-5.41%	5.54%	5.54%

Cashflow Statement

Concept	2020	2019 Q4	2019
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net Income	$398.4M	-$59.40M	-$114.9M
YoY Change	-446.6%	-214.01%	-179.63%
Depreciation, Depletion And Amortization	$232.9M	$55.50M	$205.5M
YoY Change	13.33%	33.73%	57.23%
Cash From Operating Activities	$37.12M	$781.7M	$174.2M
YoY Change	-78.69%	-521.4%	-153.3%
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital Expenditures	$416.6M	-$158.1M	$668.7M
YoY Change	-37.7%	22.37%	-9.61%
Acquisitions
YoY Change
Other Investing Activities	$5.500M	-$149.5M	$2.876M
YoY Change	91.24%	-161.73%	-53.22%
Cash From Investing Activities	-$131.2M	-$307.7M	-$362.3M
YoY Change	-63.78%	-372.3%	-46.93%
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Cash Dividend Paid
YoY Change
Common Stock Issuance & Retirement, Net
YoY Change
Debt Paid & Issued, Net	$225.3M		$30.10M
YoY Change	648.68%		58.94%
Cash From Financing Activities	-$82.59M	-6.800M	$74.94M
YoY Change	-210.2%	-106.07%	-70.64%
NET CHANGE
Cash From Operating Activities	$37.12M	781.7M	$174.2M
Cash From Investing Activities	-$131.2M	-307.7M	-$362.3M
Cash From Financing Activities	-$82.59M	-6.800M	$74.94M
Net Change In Cash	-$172.9M	467.2M	-$116.1M
YoY Change	48.92%	1082.78%	-84.88%
FREE CASH FLOW
Cash From Operating Activities	$37.12M	$781.7M	$174.2M
Capital Expenditures	$416.6M	-$158.1M	$668.7M
Free Cash Flow	-$379.5M	$939.8M	-$494.5M
YoY Change	-23.26%	-1769.27%	-53.64%

Facts In Submission

Frame	Concept Type	Concept / XBRL Key	Value	Unit
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CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	500000000	shares
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CY2020	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Holding Gain Loss On Securities Arising During Period Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodTax	1231000	USD
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CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Noncurrent Statement Of Financial Position Extensible List OperatingLeaseLiabilityNoncurrentStatementOfFinancialPositionExtensibleList	us-gaap:OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent
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CY2020	dei	Document Type DocumentType	10-K
CY2020	dei	Document Annual Report DocumentAnnualReport	true
CY2020	dei	Document Transition Report DocumentTransitionReport	false
CY2020	dei	Entity File Number EntityFileNumber	001-33156
CY2020	dei	Entity Registrant Name EntityRegistrantName	First Solar, Inc.
CY2020	dei	Entity Incorporation State Country Code EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode	DE
CY2020	dei	Entity Tax Identification Number EntityTaxIdentificationNumber	20-4623678
CY2020	dei	Entity Address Address Line1 EntityAddressAddressLine1	350 West Washington Street, Suite 600
CY2020	dei	Entity Address City Or Town EntityAddressCityOrTown	Tempe
CY2020	dei	Entity Address State Or Province EntityAddressStateOrProvince	AZ
CY2020	dei	Entity Address Postal Zip Code EntityAddressPostalZipCode	85281
CY2020	dei	City Area Code CityAreaCode	602
CY2020	dei	Local Phone Number LocalPhoneNumber	414-9300
CY2020	dei	Security12b Title Security12bTitle	Common stock, $0.001 par value
CY2020	dei	Trading Symbol TradingSymbol	FSLR
CY2020	dei	Security Exchange Name SecurityExchangeName	NASDAQ
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CY2020	dei	Entity Voluntary Filers EntityVoluntaryFilers	No
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CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities And Stockholders Equity LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity	7108931000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities And Stockholders Equity LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity	7515689000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	2711332000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	3063117000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	2244044000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods And Services Sold CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold	2030659000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods And Services Sold CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold	2513905000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Cost Of Goods And Services Sold CostOfGoodsAndServicesSold	1851867000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	549212000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	392177000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	222918000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	205471000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	176857000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	93738000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	96611000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	84472000	USD
CY2020	fslr	Production Start Up Expense ProductionStartUpExpense	40528000	USD
CY2019	fslr	Production Start Up Expense ProductionStartUpExpense	45915000	USD
CY2018	fslr	Production Start Up Expense ProductionStartUpExpense	90735000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Loss Contingency Loss In Period LossContingencyLossInPeriod	6000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Loss Contingency Loss In Period LossContingencyLossInPeriod	363000000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Loss Contingency Loss In Period LossContingencyLossInPeriod	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Operating Expenses OperatingExpenses	363184000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Operating Expenses OperatingExpenses	710997000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Operating Expenses OperatingExpenses	352064000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	317489000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	-161785000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	40113000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Foreign Currency Transaction Gain Loss Before Tax ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax	-4890000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Foreign Currency Transaction Gain Loss Before Tax ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax	2291000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Foreign Currency Transaction Gain Loss Before Tax ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax	-570000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest InvestmentIncomeInterest	16559000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest InvestmentIncomeInterest	48886000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Investment Income Interest InvestmentIncomeInterest	59788000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	24036000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	27066000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	25921000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Other Nonoperating Income Expense OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	-11932000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Other Nonoperating Income Expense OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	17545000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Other Nonoperating Income Expense OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	39737000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	293190000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	-120129000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	113147000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-107294000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-5480000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	3441000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	-2129000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	398355000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-114933000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	144326000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	3.76
CY2019	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	-1.09
CY2018	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	1.38
CY2020	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	3.73
CY2019	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	-1.09
CY2018	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	1.36
CY2020	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	105867000	shares
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
CY2020	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	106686000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	398355000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-114933000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	144326000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax	-2810000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax	21659000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Derivatives Qualifying As Hedges Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeDerivativesQualifyingAsHedgesNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent	-1241000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent	17608000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	415963000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	-139801000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	87601000	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
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
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
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	5096767000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	398355000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax Portion Attributable To Parent OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent	17608000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Share Based Compensation StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensation	1363000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Adjustments Related To Tax Withholding For Share Based Compensation AdjustmentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation	13118000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Sharebased Compensation Requisite Service Period Recognition Value AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue	29166000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	5520928000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	398355000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-114933000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	144326000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Depreciation Amortization And Accretion Net DepreciationAmortizationAndAccretionNet	232925000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Depreciation Amortization And Accretion Net DepreciationAmortizationAndAccretionNet	205475000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Depreciation Amortization And Accretion Net DepreciationAmortizationAndAccretionNet	130736000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Asset Impairment Charges AssetImpairmentCharges	35806000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Asset Impairment Charges AssetImpairmentCharges	7577000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Asset Impairment Charges AssetImpairmentCharges	8065000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	29267000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	37429000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	34154000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	-2129000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Equity Method Investment Dividends Or Distributions EquityMethodInvestmentDividendsOrDistributions	0	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Foreign Currency Transaction Gain Loss Unrealized ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossUnrealized	-1359000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Foreign Currency Transaction Gain Loss Unrealized ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossUnrealized	-919000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayable	-336000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Foreign Currency Transaction Gain Loss Unrealized ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossUnrealized	-8740000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Deferred Income Taxes And Tax Credits DeferredIncomeTaxesAndTaxCredits	36013000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Realized Gain Loss DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleRealizedGainLoss	15346000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Realized Gain Loss DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleRealizedGainLoss	40621000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Realized Gain Loss DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleRealizedGainLoss	55405000	USD
CY2020	fslr	Liabilitiesassumedbycustomersforthesaleofsystems Liabilitiesassumedbycustomersforthesaleofsystems	136745000	USD
CY2019	fslr	Liabilitiesassumedbycustomersforthesaleofsystems Liabilitiesassumedbycustomersforthesaleofsystems	88050000	USD
CY2018	fslr	Liabilitiesassumedbycustomersforthesaleofsystems Liabilitiesassumedbycustomersforthesaleofsystems	240865000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Other Operating Activities Cash Flow Statement OtherOperatingActivitiesCashFlowStatement	15809000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	-345150000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	73594000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	202298000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Prepaid Deferred Expense And Other Assets IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidDeferredExpenseAndOtherAssets	992000	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
CY2020	fslr	Increase Decrease In Inventory And Bos Parts IncreaseDecreaseInInventoryAndBosParts	145396000	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
CY2020	fslr	Increase Decrease In Project Assets And Pv Solar Power Systems IncreaseDecreaseInProjectAssetsAndPVSolarPowerSystems	-106867000	USD
CY2019	fslr	Increase Decrease In Project Assets And Pv Solar Power Systems IncreaseDecreaseInProjectAssetsAndPVSolarPowerSystems	20773000	USD
CY2018	fslr	Increase Decrease In Project Assets And Pv Solar Power Systems IncreaseDecreaseInProjectAssetsAndPVSolarPowerSystems	-49939000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Assets IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingAssets	32073000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Income Taxes Payable Net Of Income Taxes Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInIncomeTaxesPayableNetOfIncomeTaxesReceivable	-177431000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayable	-43285000	USD
CY2018	fslr	Other Increase Decreasein Accrued Solar Module Collectionand Recycling Liability OtherIncreaseDecreaseinAccruedSolarModuleCollectionandRecyclingLiability	-31003000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities	37120000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayable	96443000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accrued Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccruedLiabilities	-606111000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accrued Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccruedLiabilities	397527000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accrued Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccruedLiabilities	132382000	USD
CY2020	fslr	Other Increase Decreasein Accrued Solar Module Collectionand Recycling Liability OtherIncreaseDecreaseinAccruedSolarModuleCollectionandRecyclingLiability	-9181000	USD
CY2019	fslr	Other Increase Decreasein Accrued Solar Module Collectionand Recycling Liability OtherIncreaseDecreaseinAccruedSolarModuleCollectionandRecyclingLiability	3748000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Property Plant And Equipment PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment	416635000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Available For Sale Securities Debt PaymentsToAcquireAvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebt	901924000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Proceeds From Maturities Prepayments And Calls Of Available For Sale Securities ProceedsFromMaturitiesPrepaymentsAndCallsOfAvailableForSaleSecurities	1192832000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Equity Method Investments ProceedsFromSaleOfEquityMethodInvestments	0	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Proceeds From Collection Of Advance To Affiliate ProceedsFromCollectionOfAdvanceToAffiliate	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Other Investing Activities PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities	5500000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	-131227000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Repayments Of Long Term Debt RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	225344000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Repayments Of Long Term Debt RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	30099000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Repayments Of Long Term Debt RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt	18937000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Long Term Debt ProceedsFromIssuanceOfLongTermDebt	156679000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments Related To Tax Withholding For Share Based Compensation PaymentsRelatedToTaxWithholdingForShareBasedCompensation	13118000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Proceeds From Payments For Other Financing Activities ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities	-804000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Payments For Other Financing Activities ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities	999000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Proceeds From Payments For Other Financing Activities ProceedsFromPaymentsForOtherFinancingActivities	-5585000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	-82587000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	74943000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	255228000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Effect Of Exchange Rate On Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	3778000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Effect Of Exchange Rate On Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	-2959000	USD
CY2020	fslr	Accrued Interest Capitalizedto Long Term Debt AccruedInterestCapitalizedtoLongTermDebt	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease Including Exchange Rate Effect CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecreaseIncludingExchangeRateEffect	-116113000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Effect Of Exchange Rate On Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	-13558000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease Including Exchange Rate Effect CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecreaseIncludingExchangeRateEffect	-172916000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease Including Exchange Rate Effect CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecreaseIncludingExchangeRateEffect	-767853000	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
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	1273594000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Capital Expenditures Incurred But Not Yet Paid CapitalExpendituresIncurredButNotYetPaid	110576000	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
CY2020	fslr	Saleofsystempreviouslyaccountedforassaleleasebackfinancing Saleofsystempreviouslyaccountedforassaleleasebackfinancing	0	USD
CY2019	fslr	Saleofsystempreviouslyaccountedforassaleleasebackfinancing Saleofsystempreviouslyaccountedforassaleleasebackfinancing	0	USD
CY2018	fslr	Saleofsystempreviouslyaccountedforassaleleasebackfinancing Saleofsystempreviouslyaccountedforassaleleasebackfinancing	31992000	USD
CY2019	fslr	Accrued Interest Capitalizedto Long Term Debt AccruedInterestCapitalizedtoLongTermDebt	0	USD
CY2018	fslr	Accrued Interest Capitalizedto Long Term Debt AccruedInterestCapitalizedtoLongTermDebt	3512000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Comparability Of Prior Year Financial Data ComparabilityOfPriorYearFinancialData	<span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Basis of Presentation. </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">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>
CY2020	us-gaap	Use Of Estimates UseOfEstimates	<span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">Use of Estimates.</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Times New Roman',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%"> 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>
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	14462000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Goodwill Period Increase Decrease GoodwillPeriodIncreaseDecrease	0	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	14462000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	14462000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Goodwill Period Increase Decrease GoodwillPeriodIncreaseDecrease	0	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	14462000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Gross FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross	114623000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Accumulated Amortization FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization	58485000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	1745000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Intangible Assets Net Excluding Goodwill IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill	56138000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Amortization Of Intangible Assets AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	10800000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Amortization Of Intangible Assets AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	10200000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Amortization Of Intangible Assets AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	9900000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Next Twelve Months FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseNextTwelveMonths	10935000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Two FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearTwo	10911000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Three FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearThree	10626000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Four FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFour	10497000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Five FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFive	4026000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense After Year Five FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseAfterYearFive	9143000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Net FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet	56138000	USD
CY2020	fslr	Product Minimum Service Life ProductMinimumServiceLife	P25Y
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	1227002000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	1352741000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Securities Current AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecuritiesCurrent	520066000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Securities Current AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecuritiesCurrent	811506000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Investments And Cash InvestmentsAndCash	1747068000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Investments And Cash InvestmentsAndCash	2164247000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	1227002000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	1352741000	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	fslr	Debt Securities Available For Sale Allowance For Credit Loss Cumulative Effect Adjustment For The Adoption Of Asu201613 DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleAllowanceForCreditLossCumulativeEffectAdjustmentForTheAdoptionOfASU201613	207000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Allowance For Credit Loss Period Increase Decrease DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleAllowanceForCreditLossPeriodIncreaseDecrease	326000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Allowance For Credit Loss Securities Sold DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleAllowanceForCreditLossSecuritiesSold	-412000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Allowance For Credit Loss DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleAllowanceForCreditLoss	121000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities Within One Year Amortized Cost AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesWithinOneYearAmortizedCost	407491000	USD
CY2020Q4	fslr	Debt Securities Availableforsale Maturities Rolling Year One Through Two DebtSecuritiesAvailableforsaleMaturitiesRollingYearOneThroughTwo	109553000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Securities Current AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecuritiesCurrent	520066000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Gross Current AccountsReceivableGrossCurrent	269095000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Gross Current AccountsReceivableGrossCurrent	476425000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable Current AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent	3009000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable Current AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent	1386000	USD
CY2020Q4	fslr	Debt Securities Availableforsale Maturities Rolling Year Two Through Three DebtSecuritiesAvailableforsaleMaturitiesRollingYearTwoThroughThree	3022000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Net Current AccountsReceivableNetCurrent	266086000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	13697000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents Noncurrent RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent	44847000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents Noncurrent RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent	80072000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	1273594000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	1446510000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Available For Sale Securities Debt ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebt	188100000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Realized Gain DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleRealizedGain	200000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Available For Sale Securities Debt ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebt	52000000.0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Realized Gain DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleRealizedGain	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Available For Sale Securities Debt ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebt	10800000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Realized Gain DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleRealizedGain	100000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Debt Securities Amortized Cost Basis AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAmortizedCostBasis	519844000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Debt Securities Accumulated Gross Unrealized Gain Before Tax AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax	389000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Debt Securities Accumulated Gross Unrealized Loss Before Tax AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax	46000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Allowance For Credit Loss DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleAllowanceForCreditLoss	121000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Securities Current AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecuritiesCurrent	520066000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Net Current AccountsReceivableNetCurrent	475039000	USD
CY2020Q4	fslr	Secured Accounts Receivable SecuredAccountsReceivable	24400000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Secured Accounts Receivable SecuredAccountsReceivable	44900000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Unbilled Receivables Current UnbilledReceivablesCurrent	26673000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Unbilled Receivables Current UnbilledReceivablesCurrent	162057000	USD
CY2020Q4	fslr	Contract Receivable Retainage Current ContractReceivableRetainageCurrent	0	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Contract Receivable Retainage Current ContractReceivableRetainageCurrent	21416000	USD
CY2020Q4	fslr	Accounts Receivable Unbilled And Retainage Allowance For Credit Loss AccountsReceivableUnbilledAndRetainageAllowanceForCreditLoss	303000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Accounts Receivable Unbilled And Retainage Allowance For Credit Loss AccountsReceivableUnbilledAndRetainageAllowanceForCreditLoss	0	USD
CY2020Q4	fslr	Accounts Receivable Unbilled And Retainage After Allowance For Credit Loss AccountsReceivableUnbilledAndRetainageAfterAllowanceForCreditLoss	26370000	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
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Finished Goods Net Of Reserves InventoryFinishedGoodsNetOfReserves	295479000	USD
CY2020Q4	fslr	Inventory Current And Noncurrent Net InventoryCurrentAndNoncurrentNet	768816000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Inventory Current And Noncurrent Net InventoryCurrentAndNoncurrentNet	604159000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Net InventoryNet	567587000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Net InventoryNet	443513000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable Period Increase Decrease AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivablePeriodIncreaseDecrease	2030000	USD
CY2020	fslr	Accounts Receivable Unbilled And Retainage Allowance For Credit Loss Period Increase Decrease AccountsReceivableUnbilledAndRetainageAllowanceForCreditLossPeriodIncreaseDecrease	19000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable Write Offs AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableWriteOffs	578000	USD
CY2020	fslr	Accounts Receivable Unbilled And Retainage Allowance For Credit Loss Writeoff AccountsReceivableUnbilledAndRetainageAllowanceForCreditLossWriteoff	175000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable Current AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableCurrent	3009000	USD
CY2020Q4	fslr	Accounts Receivable Unbilled And Retainage Allowance For Credit Loss AccountsReceivableUnbilledAndRetainageAllowanceForCreditLoss	303000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Raw Materials Net Of Reserves InventoryRawMaterialsNetOfReserves	292334000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Raw Materials Net Of Reserves InventoryRawMaterialsNetOfReserves	248756000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Work In Process Net Of Reserves InventoryWorkInProcessNetOfReserves	64709000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Work In Process Net Of Reserves InventoryWorkInProcessNetOfReserves	59924000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Finished Goods Net Of Reserves InventoryFinishedGoodsNetOfReserves	411773000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Noncurrent InventoryNoncurrent	201229000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Noncurrent InventoryNoncurrent	160646000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Prepaid Expense Current PrepaidExpenseCurrent	160534000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Prepaid Expense Current PrepaidExpenseCurrent	137927000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Prepaid Taxes PrepaidTaxes	71051000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Prepaid Taxes PrepaidTaxes	47811000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Assets Current DerivativeAssetsCurrent	3315000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Assets Current DerivativeAssetsCurrent	1199000	USD
CY2020Q4	fslr	Indirect Tax Receivables Current IndirectTaxReceivablesCurrent	1827000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Indirect Tax Receivables Current IndirectTaxReceivablesCurrent	29908000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	1745000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	13697000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Notes And Loans Receivable Net Current NotesAndLoansReceivableNetCurrent	0	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Notes And Loans Receivable Net Current NotesAndLoansReceivableNetCurrent	23873000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Current OtherAssetsCurrent	13237000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Current OtherAssetsCurrent	22040000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Prepaid Expense And Other Assets Current PrepaidExpenseAndOtherAssetsCurrent	251709000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Prepaid Expense And Other Assets Current PrepaidExpenseAndOtherAssetsCurrent	276455000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	3497406000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	3567231000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	1095121000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	1386082000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	2402285000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	2181149000	USD
CY2020Q4	fslr	Pv Solar Power Systems Gross PVSolarPowerSystemsGross	298067000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Pv Solar Power Systems Gross PVSolarPowerSystemsGross	530004000	USD
CY2020Q4	fslr	Accumulated Depreciation Pv Solar Power Systems AccumulatedDepreciationPVSolarPowerSystems	54671000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Accumulated Depreciation Pv Solar Power Systems AccumulatedDepreciationPVSolarPowerSystems	53027000	USD
CY2020Q4	fslr	Pv Solar Power Systems Net PVSolarPowerSystemsNet	243396000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Pv Solar Power Systems Net PVSolarPowerSystemsNet	476977000	USD
CY2020Q4	fslr	Project Assets Developmentand Land Costs ProjectAssetsDevelopmentandLandCosts	176346000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Project Assets Developmentand Land Costs ProjectAssetsDevelopmentandLandCosts	254466000	USD
CY2020Q4	fslr	Project Assets Construction Costs ProjectAssetsConstructionCosts	197031000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Project Assets Construction Costs ProjectAssetsConstructionCosts	82654000	USD
CY2020Q4	fslr	Total Project Assets Currentand Noncurrent TotalProjectAssetsCurrentandNoncurrent	373377000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Total Project Assets Currentand Noncurrent TotalProjectAssetsCurrentandNoncurrent	337120000	USD
CY2020Q4	fslr	Project Assets Current ProjectAssetsCurrent	0	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Project Assets Current ProjectAssetsCurrent	3524000	USD
CY2020Q4	fslr	Project Assets Noncurrent ProjectAssetsNoncurrent	373377000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Project Assets Noncurrent ProjectAssetsNoncurrent	333596000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Interest Costs Incurred InterestCostsIncurred	25834000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Interest Costs Incurred InterestCostsIncurred	29656000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Interest Costs Incurred InterestCostsIncurred	31752000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	24036000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	27066000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	25921000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Right Of Use Asset OperatingLeaseRightOfUseAsset	226664000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Right Of Use Asset OperatingLeaseRightOfUseAsset	145711000	USD
CY2020Q4	fslr	Advanced Payments For Raw Materials Noncurrent AdvancedPaymentsForRawMaterialsNoncurrent	97883000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Advanced Payments For Raw Materials Noncurrent AdvancedPaymentsForRawMaterialsNoncurrent	59806000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents Noncurrent RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent	44847000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Restricted Cash And Cash Equivalents Noncurrent RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent	80072000	USD
CY2020Q4	fslr	Unbilled Receivables Noncurrent UnbilledReceivablesNoncurrent	22722000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Unbilled Receivables Noncurrent UnbilledReceivablesNoncurrent	0	USD
CY2020Q4	fslr	Indirect Tax Receivables Noncurrent IndirectTaxReceivablesNoncurrent	14849000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Indirect Tax Receivables Noncurrent IndirectTaxReceivablesNoncurrent	9446000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Notes And Loans Receivable Net Noncurrent NotesAndLoansReceivableNetNoncurrent	350000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Notes And Loans Receivable Net Noncurrent NotesAndLoansReceivableNetNoncurrent	8194000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Income Tax Receivable IncomeTaxReceivable	36000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Income Tax Receivable IncomeTaxReceivable	4106000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Miscellaneous Noncurrent OtherAssetsMiscellaneousNoncurrent	26779000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Miscellaneous Noncurrent OtherAssetsMiscellaneousNoncurrent	22591000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Noncurrent OtherAssetsNoncurrent	434130000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Noncurrent OtherAssetsNoncurrent	329926000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Cash And Cash Equivalents DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationCashAndCashEquivalents	2037000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Accounts Notes And Loans Receivable Net DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationAccountsNotesAndLoansReceivableNet	16612000	USD
CY2020Q4	fslr	Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Accounts Receivable Unbilled And Retainage Net DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationAccountsReceivableUnbilledAndRetainageNet	3687000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Inventory Current DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationInventoryCurrent	243000	USD
CY2020Q4	fslr	Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Balance Of Systems Parts DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationBalanceOfSystemsParts	34245000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Prepaid And Other Assets Current DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationPrepaidAndOtherAssetsCurrent	13746000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Property Plant And Equipment DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	5792000	USD
CY2020Q4	fslr	Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Pv Solar Power Systems Net DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationPVSolarPowerSystemsNet	10997000	USD
CY2020Q4	fslr	Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Project Assets DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationProjectAssets	65660000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Other Noncurrent Assets DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationOtherNoncurrentAssets	2666000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Assets Of Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Current AssetsOfDisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationCurrent	155685000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Accounts Payable Current DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationAccountsPayableCurrent	2991000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Accrued Liabilities Current DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	5593000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Deferred Revenue Current DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationDeferredRevenueCurrent	2730000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Other Current Liabilities DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationOtherCurrentLiabilities	1904000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Other Noncurrent Liabilities DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationOtherNoncurrentLiabilities	12403000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Of Disposal Group Including Discontinued Operation Current LiabilitiesOfDisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationCurrent	25621000	USD
CY2020Q4	fslr	Accrued Project Assets AccruedProjectAssets	81380000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Accrued Project Assets AccruedProjectAssets	91971000	USD
CY2020Q4	fslr	Accrued Property Plant And Equipment AccruedPropertyPlantAndEquipment	66543000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Accrued Property Plant And Equipment AccruedPropertyPlantAndEquipment	42834000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Employee Related Liabilities Current EmployeeRelatedLiabilitiesCurrent	51685000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Employee Related Liabilities Current EmployeeRelatedLiabilitiesCurrent	65170000	USD
CY2020Q4	fslr	Accrued Inventory AccruedInventory	25704000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Accrued Inventory AccruedInventory	39366000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Product Warranty Accrual Classified Current ProductWarrantyAccrualClassifiedCurrent	22278000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Product Warranty Accrual Classified Current ProductWarrantyAccrualClassifiedCurrent	20291000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Other Accrued Liabilities Current OtherAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	62877000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Accrued Liabilities Current OtherAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	91628000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Liabilities Current AccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	310467000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Liabilities Current AccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	351260000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Sales And Excise Tax Payable Current SalesAndExciseTaxPayableCurrent	30041000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Sales And Excise Tax Payable Current SalesAndExciseTaxPayableCurrent	994000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Current OperatingLeaseLiabilityCurrent	14006000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Current OperatingLeaseLiabilityCurrent	11102000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Liabilities Current DerivativeLiabilitiesCurrent	5280000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Liabilities Current DerivativeLiabilitiesCurrent	2582000	USD
CY2020Q4	fslr	Contingent Consideration Liability Current ContingentConsiderationLiabilityCurrent	2243000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Contingent Consideration Liability Current ContingentConsiderationLiabilityCurrent	2395000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Other Sundry Liabilities Current OtherSundryLiabilitiesCurrent	31467000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Sundry Liabilities Current OtherSundryLiabilitiesCurrent	11057000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Current OtherLiabilitiesCurrent	83037000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Current OtherLiabilitiesCurrent	28130000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Noncurrent OperatingLeaseLiabilityNoncurrent	189034000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Noncurrent OperatingLeaseLiabilityNoncurrent	112515000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Product Warranty Accrual Noncurrent ProductWarrantyAccrualNoncurrent	72818000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Product Warranty Accrual Noncurrent ProductWarrantyAccrualNoncurrent	109506000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Revenue Noncurrent DeferredRevenueNoncurrent	44919000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Revenue Noncurrent DeferredRevenueNoncurrent	71438000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Liabilities Net DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilitiesNet	23671000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Liabilities Net DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilitiesNet	6493000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Income Taxes Noncurrent AccruedIncomeTaxesNoncurrent	6515000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Income Taxes Noncurrent AccruedIncomeTaxesNoncurrent	90201000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Liabilities Noncurrent DerivativeLiabilitiesNoncurrent	341000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Liabilities Noncurrent DerivativeLiabilitiesNoncurrent	7439000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Of2017 Transition Tax For Accumulated Foreign Earnings Liability Noncurrent TaxCutsAndJobsActOf2017TransitionTaxForAccumulatedForeignEarningsLiabilityNoncurrent	0	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Of2017 Transition Tax For Accumulated Foreign Earnings Liability Noncurrent TaxCutsAndJobsActOf2017TransitionTaxForAccumulatedForeignEarningsLiabilityNoncurrent	70047000	USD
CY2020Q4	fslr	Contingentconsiderationnoncurrent Contingentconsiderationnoncurrent	0	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Contingentconsiderationnoncurrent Contingentconsiderationnoncurrent	4500000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Other Sundry Liabilities Noncurrent OtherSundryLiabilitiesNoncurrent	34928000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Sundry Liabilities Noncurrent OtherSundryLiabilitiesNoncurrent	36627000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Noncurrent OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent	372226000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Noncurrent OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent	508766000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Variable Lease Cost VariableLeaseCost	3518000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Operating Lease Cost OperatingLeaseCost	18739000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Operating Lease Cost OperatingLeaseCost	21833000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Variable Lease Cost VariableLeaseCost	2616000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Short Term Lease Cost ShortTermLeaseCost	2628000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Short Term Lease Cost ShortTermLeaseCost	7511000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Lease Cost LeaseCost	23983000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Lease Cost LeaseCost	32862000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Operating Lease Payments OperatingLeasePayments	19192000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Operating Lease Payments OperatingLeasePayments	21678000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Right Of Use Asset Obtained In Exchange For Operating Lease Liability RightOfUseAssetObtainedInExchangeForOperatingLeaseLiability	98822000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Right Of Use Asset Obtained In Exchange For Operating Lease Liability RightOfUseAssetObtainedInExchangeForOperatingLeaseLiability	179804000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Right Of Use Asset OperatingLeaseRightOfUseAsset	226664000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Right Of Use Asset OperatingLeaseRightOfUseAsset	145711000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Current OperatingLeaseLiabilityCurrent	14006000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Current OperatingLeaseLiabilityCurrent	11102000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Noncurrent OperatingLeaseLiabilityNoncurrent	189034000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Noncurrent OperatingLeaseLiabilityNoncurrent	112515000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term1 OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageRemainingLeaseTerm1	P20Y
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term1 OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageRemainingLeaseTerm1	P15Y
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Weighted Average Discount Rate Percent OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageDiscountRatePercent	0.029
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Weighted Average Discount Rate Percent OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageDiscountRatePercent	0.043
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Next Twelve Months LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueNextTwelveMonths	17858000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Two LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearTwo	17378000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Three LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearThree	17483000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Four LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearFour	17158000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Five LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearFive	16726000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due After Year Five LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueAfterYearFive	166168000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDue	252771000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Undiscounted Excess Amount LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityUndiscountedExcessAmount	49731000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability OperatingLeaseLiability	203040000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Lease And Rental Expense LeaseAndRentalExpense	18900000	USD
CY2020	fslr	Changein Estimateof Module Collectionand Recycling Liability ChangeinEstimateofModuleCollectionandRecyclingLiability	-18900000	USD
CY2018	fslr	Changein Estimateof Module Collectionand Recycling Liability ChangeinEstimateofModuleCollectionandRecyclingLiability	-34200000	USD
CY2020Q4	fslr	Solar Module Collection And Recycling Liability SolarModuleCollectionAndRecyclingLiability	130700000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Solar Module Collection And Recycling Liability SolarModuleCollectionAndRecyclingLiability	137800000	USD
CY2020	fslr	Solarmodulecollection Andrecyclingexpensecostofsales SolarmodulecollectionAndrecyclingexpensecostofsales	-18900000	USD
CY2020	fslr	Solarmodulecollectionandrecyclingexpenseaccretionexpense Solarmodulecollectionandrecyclingexpenseaccretionexpense	5200000	USD
CY2019	fslr	Solarmodulecollectionandrecyclingexpenseaccretionexpense Solarmodulecollectionandrecyclingexpenseaccretionexpense	4900000	USD
CY2018	fslr	Solarmodulecollection Andrecyclingexpensecostofsales SolarmodulecollectionAndrecyclingexpensecostofsales	-25000000.0	USD
CY2018	fslr	Solarmodulecollectionandrecyclingexpenseaccretionexpense Solarmodulecollectionandrecyclingexpenseaccretionexpense	-2900000	USD
CY2020Q4	fslr	Percentageincreaseinannualizedinflationrate Percentageincreaseinannualizedinflationrate	0.01
CY2020Q4	fslr	Estimated Increasein Solar Module Collection Recycling Liabilityfrom Sensitivity Analysis EstimatedIncreaseinSolarModuleCollectionRecyclingLiabilityfromSensitivityAnalysis	21600000	USD
CY2020Q4	fslr	Percentagedecreaseinannualizedinflationrate Percentagedecreaseinannualizedinflationrate	0.01
CY2020Q4	fslr	Estimated Decreasein Solar Module Collection Recycling Liabilityfrom Sensitivity Analysis EstimatedDecreaseinSolarModuleCollectionRecyclingLiabilityfromSensitivityAnalysis	18700000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Carrying Amount DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount	287149000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Carrying Amount DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount	482892000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Unamortized Discount Premium And Debt Issuance Costs Net DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscountPremiumAndDebtIssuanceCostsNet	7918000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Unamortized Discount Premium And Debt Issuance Costs Net DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscountPremiumAndDebtIssuanceCostsNet	11195000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Debt Longterm And Shortterm Combined Amount DebtLongtermAndShorttermCombinedAmount	279231000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Debt Longterm And Shortterm Combined Amount DebtLongtermAndShorttermCombinedAmount	471697000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Current LongTermDebtCurrent	41540000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Current LongTermDebtCurrent	17510000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Noncurrent LongTermDebtNoncurrent	237691000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Noncurrent LongTermDebtNoncurrent	454187000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Interest Paid InterestPaid	14900000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Interest Paid InterestPaid	18800000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Interest Paid InterestPaid	16600000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Next Twelve Months LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInNextTwelveMonths	41801000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Two LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearTwo	17848000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Three LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearThree	6084000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Four LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearFour	54727000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal In Year Five LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearFive	7560000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt Maturities Repayments Of Principal After Year Five LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalAfterYearFive	159129000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Debt LongTermDebt	287149000	USD
CY2020Q4	fslr	Surety Bonds SuretyBonds	67000000.0	USD
CY2020Q4	fslr	Surety Bond Capacity SuretyBondCapacity	649900000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Product Warranty Accrual Warranties Issued ProductWarrantyAccrualWarrantiesIssued	9424000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Product Warranty Accrual Warranties Issued ProductWarrantyAccrualWarrantiesIssued	17327000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Product Warranty Accrual Warranties Issued ProductWarrantyAccrualWarrantiesIssued	14132000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Payments StandardProductWarrantyAccrualPayments	22464000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Payments StandardProductWarrantyAccrualPayments	22540000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Payments StandardProductWarrantyAccrualPayments	11851000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Preexisting Increase Decrease StandardProductWarrantyAccrualPreexistingIncreaseDecrease	-21661000	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
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual StandardProductWarrantyAccrual	95096000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual StandardProductWarrantyAccrual	129797000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual StandardProductWarrantyAccrual	220692000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Current StandardProductWarrantyAccrualCurrent	22278000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Current StandardProductWarrantyAccrualCurrent	20291000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Current StandardProductWarrantyAccrualCurrent	27657000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Noncurrent StandardProductWarrantyAccrualNoncurrent	72818000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Noncurrent StandardProductWarrantyAccrualNoncurrent	109506000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Noncurrent StandardProductWarrantyAccrualNoncurrent	193035000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Period Increase Decrease StandardProductWarrantyAccrualPeriodIncreaseDecrease	19700000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Standard Product Warranty Accrual Period Increase Decrease StandardProductWarrantyAccrualPeriodIncreaseDecrease	80000000.0	USD
CY2020Q4	fslr	Estimated Rateof Returnfor Module Warranty EstimatedRateofReturnforModuleWarranty	0.01
CY2020Q4	fslr	Percentage Point Changein Estimated Rateof Returnof Module Warranty PercentagePointChangeinEstimatedRateofReturnofModuleWarranty	0.01
CY2020Q4	fslr	Estimated Changein Module Warrantyfrom Sensitivity Analysis EstimatedChangeinModuleWarrantyfromSensitivityAnalysis	104900000	USD
CY2020Q4	fslr	Percentage Point Changein Estimated Rateof Returnof Balanceof Systems Warranty PercentagePointChangeinEstimatedRateofReturnofBalanceofSystemsWarranty	0.01
CY2020Q4	fslr	Energy Performance Testing Liability EnergyPerformanceTestingLiability	10200000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Energy Performance Testing Liability EnergyPerformanceTestingLiability	4600000	USD
CY2020Q4	fslr	Effective Availability Guarantee Liability EffectiveAvailabilityGuaranteeLiability	900000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Effective Availability Guarantee Liability EffectiveAvailabilityGuaranteeLiability	600000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Guarantee Obligations Current Carrying Value GuaranteeObligationsCurrentCarryingValue	3200000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Guarantee Obligations Current Carrying Value GuaranteeObligationsCurrentCarryingValue	800000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Guarantor Obligations Carrying Value Non Current GuarantorObligationsCarryingValueNonCurrent	4200000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Guarantee Obligations Maximum Exposure GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposure	181900000	USD
CY2020Q4	fslr	Guarantor Obligations Potential Insurance Recoveries GuarantorObligationsPotentialInsuranceRecoveries	43800000	USD
CY2020Q4	fslr	Project Acquisition Contingent Consideration Liability Current ProjectAcquisitionContingentConsiderationLiabilityCurrent	2200000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Project Acquisition Contingent Consideration Liability Current ProjectAcquisitionContingentConsiderationLiabilityCurrent	2400000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Project Acquisition Contingent Consideration Liability Noncurrent ProjectAcquisitionContingentConsiderationLiabilityNoncurrent	4500000	USD
CY2020Q4	fslr	Project Acquisition Contingent Consideration Liability Noncurrent ProjectAcquisitionContingentConsiderationLiabilityNoncurrent	4500000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	2711332000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	3063117000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	2244044000	USD
CY2020	fslr	Project Changein Estimate Disclosure Threshold ProjectChangeinEstimateDisclosureThreshold	1000000.0	USD
CY2020	fslr	Numberof Projectswith Changesin Estimates NumberofProjectswithChangesinEstimates	9	Projects
CY2019	fslr	Numberof Projectswith Changesin Estimates NumberofProjectswithChangesinEstimates	3	Projects
CY2018	fslr	Numberof Projectswith Changesin Estimates NumberofProjectswithChangesinEstimates	24	Projects
CY2020	fslr	Increase Decreasein Revenuefrom Net Changesin Transaction Price IncreaseDecreaseinRevenuefromNetChangesinTransactionPrice	-16954000	USD
CY2019	fslr	Increase Decreasein Revenuefrom Net Changesin Transaction Price IncreaseDecreaseinRevenuefromNetChangesinTransactionPrice	-3642000	USD
CY2018	fslr	Increase Decreasein Revenuefrom Net Changesin Transaction Price IncreaseDecreaseinRevenuefromNetChangesinTransactionPrice	63361000	USD
CY2020	fslr	Increase Decreasein Revenuefrom Net Changesin Input Cost Estimates IncreaseDecreaseinRevenuefromNetChangesinInputCostEstimates	7487000	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
CY2020	fslr	Increase Decreasein Revenuefrom Net Changesin Estimates IncreaseDecreaseinRevenuefromNetChangesinEstimates	-9467000	USD
CY2019	fslr	Increase Decreasein Revenuefrom Net Changesin Estimates IncreaseDecreaseinRevenuefromNetChangesinEstimates	-26745000	USD
CY2018	fslr	Increase Decreasein Revenuefrom Net Changesin Estimates IncreaseDecreaseinRevenuefromNetChangesinEstimates	64909000	USD
CY2020	fslr	Net Changein Estimateasa Percentageof Aggregate Revenuefor Associated Projects NetChangeinEstimateasaPercentageofAggregateRevenueforAssociatedProjects	-0.005
CY2018	fslr	Increase Decreasein Revenuefrom Net Changesin Indirect Tax Estimates IncreaseDecreaseinRevenuefromNetChangesinIndirectTaxEstimates	54600000	USD
CY2019	fslr	Net Changein Estimateasa Percentageof Aggregate Revenuefor Associated Projects NetChangeinEstimateasaPercentageofAggregateRevenueforAssociatedProjects	-0.046
CY2018	fslr	Net Changein Estimateasa Percentageof Aggregate Revenuefor Associated Projects NetChangeinEstimateasaPercentageofAggregateRevenueforAssociatedProjects	0.006
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Unbilled Contracts Receivable UnbilledContractsReceivable	49395000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Unbilled Contracts Receivable UnbilledContractsReceivable	162057000	USD
CY2020Q4	fslr	Contract Receivable Retainage Current ContractReceivableRetainageCurrent	0	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Contract Receivable Retainage Current ContractReceivableRetainageCurrent	21416000	USD
CY2020Q4	fslr	Accounts Receivable Unbilled And Retainage Allowance For Credit Loss AccountsReceivableUnbilledAndRetainageAllowanceForCreditLoss	303000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Accounts Receivable Unbilled And Retainage Allowance For Credit Loss AccountsReceivableUnbilledAndRetainageAllowanceForCreditLoss	0	USD
CY2020Q4	fslr	Accounts Receivable Unbilled And Retainage Total Current And Noncurrent After Allowance For Credit Losses AccountsReceivableUnbilledAndRetainageTotalCurrentAndNoncurrentAfterAllowanceForCreditLosses	49092000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Accounts Receivable Unbilled And Retainage Total Current And Noncurrent After Allowance For Credit Losses AccountsReceivableUnbilledAndRetainageTotalCurrentAndNoncurrentAfterAllowanceForCreditLosses	183473000	USD
CY2020	fslr	Contract Asset Net Change ContractAssetNetChange	-134381000	USD
CY2020	fslr	Contract Asset Percent Change ContractAssetPercentChange	-0.73
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Revenue DeferredRevenue	233732000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Revenue DeferredRevenue	394655000	USD
CY2020	fslr	Contract Liability Net Change ContractLiabilityNetChange	-160923000	USD
CY2020	fslr	Contract Liability Percent Change ContractLiabilityPercentChange	-0.41
CY2020Q4	fslr	Unbilled Receivables Noncurrent UnbilledReceivablesNoncurrent	22700000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Revenue Noncurrent DeferredRevenueNoncurrent	44900000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Revenue Noncurrent DeferredRevenueNoncurrent	71400000	USD
CY2020	fslr	Contract Asset Net Change ContractAssetNetChange	-134400000	USD
CY2020	fslr	Contract Liability Net Change ContractLiabilityNetChange	-160900000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Liability Revenue Recognized ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRevenueRecognized	316100000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Liability Revenue Recognized ContractWithCustomerLiabilityRevenueRecognized	117700000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Authorized PreferredStockSharesAuthorized	30000000	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Authorized PreferredStockSharesAuthorized	30000000	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share PreferredStockParOrStatedValuePerShare	0.001
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share PreferredStockParOrStatedValuePerShare	0.001
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Issued PreferredStockSharesIssued	0	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Issued PreferredStockSharesIssued	0	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Outstanding PreferredStockSharesOutstanding	0	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Outstanding PreferredStockSharesOutstanding	0	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	500000000	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
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare	0.001
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Outstanding CommonStockSharesOutstanding	105980466	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Issued CommonStockSharesIssued	105980466	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Issued CommonStockSharesIssued	105448921	shares
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Outstanding CommonStockSharesOutstanding	105448921	shares
CY2020	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	29267000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	37429000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	34154000	USD
CY2020Q4	fslr	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Capitalized In Inventory EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationCapitalizedInInventory	1100000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Capitalized In Inventory EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationCapitalizedInInventory	1200000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Tax Benefit From Compensation Expense EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense	7300000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Domestic IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesDomestic	22475000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Foreign IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesForeign	270715000	USD
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
CY2020	fslr	Income Tax Benefit Net Operating Losses Under35 Rate Carryback Cares Act IncomeTaxBenefitNetOperatingLossesUnder35RateCarrybackCARESAct	89700000	USD
CY2016	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	0.35
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	0.21
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
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	293190000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	-120129000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	113147000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	-149162000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	9961000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	-44267000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Current State And Local Tax Expense Benefit CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit	4027000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Current Foreign Tax Expense Benefit CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit	26303000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Current Foreign Tax Expense Benefit CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit	41080000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Deferred Foreign Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	1973000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Current Foreign Tax Expense Benefit CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit	8788000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Current Income Tax Expense Benefit CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-118832000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Current Income Tax Expense Benefit CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	54931000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Current Income Tax Expense Benefit CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-49047000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Deferred Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	12681000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Deferred State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	7591000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Deferred Foreign Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-8734000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Deferred Foreign Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	18571000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	11538000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-60411000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	52488000	USD
CY2020	fslr	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Net Operating Losses Under35 Rate Carryback Cares Act Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationNetOperatingLossesUnder35RateCarrybackCARESActAmount	-89699000	USD
CY2020	fslr	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Net Operating Losses Under35 Rate Carryback Cares Act Percent EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationNetOperatingLossesUnder35RateCarrybackCARESActPercent	-0.306
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-107294000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-5480000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	3441000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Income Tax Expense Benefit At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate IncomeTaxReconciliationIncomeTaxExpenseBenefitAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	61570000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	0.210
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
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
CY2019	fslr	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Net Operating Losses Under35 Rate Carryback Cares Act Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationNetOperatingLossesUnder35RateCarrybackCARESActAmount	0	USD
CY2019	fslr	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Net Operating Losses Under35 Rate Carryback Cares Act Percent EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationNetOperatingLossesUnder35RateCarrybackCARESActPercent	0
CY2018	fslr	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Net Operating Losses Under35 Rate Carryback Cares Act Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationNetOperatingLossesUnder35RateCarrybackCARESActAmount	0	USD
CY2018	fslr	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Net Operating Losses Under35 Rate Carryback Cares Act Percent EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationNetOperatingLossesUnder35RateCarrybackCARESActPercent	0
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Tax Contingencies IncomeTaxReconciliationTaxContingencies	-59010000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Tax Contingencies EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxContingencies	-0.201
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Tax Contingencies IncomeTaxReconciliationTaxContingencies	7096000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Tax Contingencies EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxContingencies	-0.059
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Tax Contingencies IncomeTaxReconciliationTaxContingencies	-6273000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Tax Contingencies EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxContingencies	-0.055
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Change In Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance IncomeTaxReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	-31671000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Change In Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	-0.108
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
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
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Tax Holidays IncomeTaxReconciliationTaxHolidays	11500000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Tax Holidays EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxHolidays	0.039
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Tax Holidays IncomeTaxReconciliationTaxHolidays	26834000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Tax Holidays EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxHolidays	-0.224
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Tax Holidays IncomeTaxReconciliationTaxHolidays	26277000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Tax Holidays EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxHolidays	0.232
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Tax Credits IncomeTaxReconciliationTaxCredits	8091000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Tax Credits EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCredits	0.028
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Tax Credits IncomeTaxReconciliationTaxCredits	1996000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Tax Credits EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCredits	-0.017
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Tax Credits IncomeTaxReconciliationTaxCredits	8431000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Tax Credits EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCredits	0.075
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Share Based Compensation Excess Tax Benefit Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationShareBasedCompensationExcessTaxBenefitAmount	-720000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Share Based Compensation Excess Tax Benefit Percent EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationShareBasedCompensationExcessTaxBenefitPercent	-0.002
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Share Based Compensation Excess Tax Benefit Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationShareBasedCompensationExcessTaxBenefitAmount	-1594000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Share Based Compensation Excess Tax Benefit Percent EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationShareBasedCompensationExcessTaxBenefitPercent	0.013
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Share Based Compensation Excess Tax Benefit Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationShareBasedCompensationExcessTaxBenefitAmount	-2105000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Share Based Compensation Excess Tax Benefit Percent EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationShareBasedCompensationExcessTaxBenefitPercent	-0.019
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Prior Year Income Taxes IncomeTaxReconciliationPriorYearIncomeTaxes	2414000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Prior Year Income Taxes EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationPriorYearIncomeTaxes	0.008
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Prior Year Income Taxes IncomeTaxReconciliationPriorYearIncomeTaxes	14362000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Prior Year Income Taxes EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationPriorYearIncomeTaxes	-0.120
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Prior Year Income Taxes IncomeTaxReconciliationPriorYearIncomeTaxes	-25307000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Prior Year Income Taxes EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationPriorYearIncomeTaxes	-0.223
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Repatriation Of Foreign Earnings IncomeTaxReconciliationRepatriationOfForeignEarnings	3004000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Repatriation Of Foreign Earnings EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationRepatriationOfForeignEarnings	0.010
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Repatriation Of Foreign Earnings IncomeTaxReconciliationRepatriationOfForeignEarnings	6718000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Repatriation Of Foreign Earnings EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationRepatriationOfForeignEarnings	-0.056
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Repatriation Of Foreign Earnings IncomeTaxReconciliationRepatriationOfForeignEarnings	16570000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Repatriation Of Foreign Earnings EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationRepatriationOfForeignEarnings	0.146
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense IncomeTaxReconciliationNondeductibleExpense	3834000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationNondeductibleExpense	0.013
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense IncomeTaxReconciliationNondeductibleExpense	11119000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationNondeductibleExpense	-0.093
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense IncomeTaxReconciliationNondeductibleExpense	4636000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationNondeductibleExpense	0.041
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Foreign Income Tax Rate Differential IncomeTaxReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential	6135000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Foreign Income Tax Rate Differential EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential	0.021
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
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
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes IncomeTaxReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	11059000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	0.038
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes IncomeTaxReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	-4090000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	0.034
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes IncomeTaxReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	-7580000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	-0.067
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Other Adjustments IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments	5381000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Other Adjustments EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments	0.018
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Other Adjustments IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments	3506000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Other Adjustments EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments	-0.029
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Other Adjustments IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments	1266000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Other Adjustments EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments	0.011
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-107294000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Continuing Operations EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations	-0.366
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-5480000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Continuing Operations EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations	0.046
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	3441000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Continuing Operations EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations	0.030
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	22200000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	34700000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	58800000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Credit Carryforwards DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwards	134328000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Credit Carryforwards DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwards	13127000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Operating Loss Carryforwards DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards	110753000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Operating Loss Carryforwards DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards	165669000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Reserves And Accruals Accrued Liabilities DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccrualsAccruedLiabilities	39458000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Reserves And Accruals Accrued Liabilities DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccrualsAccruedLiabilities	134791000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	127711000	USD
CY2020Q4	fslr	Deferred Tax Liabilities Restricted Marketable Securities And Derivatives DeferredTaxLiabilitiesRestrictedMarketableSecuritiesAndDerivatives	6326000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Deferred Tax Liabilities Restricted Marketable Securities And Derivatives DeferredTaxLiabilitiesRestrictedMarketableSecuritiesAndDerivatives	4330000	USD
CY2020Q4	fslr	Deferred Tax Liabilities Acquisition Accounting Basis Difference DeferredTaxLiabilitiesAcquisitionAccountingBasisDifference	5079000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	151705000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net DeferredTaxAssetsNet	226700000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net DeferredTaxAssetsNet	230301000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Property Plant And Equipment DeferredTaxLiabilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipment	103324000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Property Plant And Equipment DeferredTaxLiabilitiesPropertyPlantAndEquipment	77794000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Deferred Expense Capitalized Interest DeferredTaxLiabilitiesDeferredExpenseCapitalizedInterest	2199000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Deferred Tax Liabilities Acquisition Accounting Basis Difference DeferredTaxLiabilitiesAcquisitionAccountingBasisDifference	5356000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Deferred Expense Capitalized Interest DeferredTaxLiabilitiesDeferredExpenseCapitalizedInterest	3097000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Compensation And Benefits Share Based Compensation Cost DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsShareBasedCompensationCost	15806000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Compensation And Benefits Share Based Compensation Cost DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsShareBasedCompensationCost	22401000	USD
CY2020Q4	fslr	Deferred Tax Assets Long Term Contracts DeferredTaxAssetsLongTermContracts	10813000	USD
CY2019Q4	fslr	Deferred Tax Assets Long Term Contracts DeferredTaxAssetsLongTermContracts	11215000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Inventory DeferredTaxAssetsInventory	4587000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Inventory DeferredTaxAssetsInventory	4020000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Equity Method Investments DeferredTaxAssetsEquityMethodInvestments	3666000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Equity Method Investments DeferredTaxAssetsEquityMethodInvestments	2906000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Goodwill And Intangible Assets DeferredTaxAssetsGoodwillAndIntangibleAssets	3065000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Goodwill And Intangible Assets DeferredTaxAssetsGoodwillAndIntangibleAssets	5557000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Other DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseOther	1844000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Other DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseOther	2177000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Other DeferredTaxAssetsOther	30091000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Other DeferredTaxAssetsOther	20143000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Gross DeferredTaxAssetsGross	354411000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Gross DeferredTaxAssetsGross	382006000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Undistributed Foreign Earnings DeferredTaxLiabilitiesUndistributedForeignEarnings	21917000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Undistributed Foreign Earnings DeferredTaxLiabilitiesUndistributedForeignEarnings	5554000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	159546000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	800000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Other DeferredTaxLiabilitiesOther	6529000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Other DeferredTaxLiabilitiesOther	10790000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities DeferredTaxLiabilities	146272000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities DeferredTaxLiabilities	106023000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Liabilities Net DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet	80428000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Liabilities Net DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet	124278000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	151705000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	143818000	USD
CY2020	fslr	Valuation Allowance Additions ValuationAllowanceAdditions	23884000	USD
CY2019	fslr	Valuation Allowance Additions ValuationAllowanceAdditions	9161000	USD
CY2018	fslr	Valuation Allowance Additions ValuationAllowanceAdditions	29359000	USD
CY2020	fslr	Valuation Allowance Reversals ValuationAllowanceReversals	47878000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	256000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	0	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	2979000	USD
CY2019	fslr	Valuation Allowance Reversals ValuationAllowanceReversals	17002000	USD
CY2018	fslr	Valuation Allowance Reversals ValuationAllowanceReversals	13631000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	127711000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	151705000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	159546000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	127700000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	151700000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Valuation Allowance Deferred Tax Asset Change In Amount ValuationAllowanceDeferredTaxAssetChangeInAmount	-24000000.0	USD
CY2020	fslr	Federal Net Operating Loss Deduction Limit Percent FederalNetOperatingLossDeductionLimitPercent	0.80
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	72169000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	72193000	USD
CY2017Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	84173000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	169000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Reductions Resulting From Lapse Of Applicable Statute Of Limitations UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations	67396000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Reductions Resulting From Lapse Of Applicable Statute Of Limitations UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations	1539000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Reductions Resulting From Lapse Of Applicable Statute Of Limitations UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations	10704000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Current Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions	684000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Current Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions	715000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Current Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions	1703000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	5370000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	72169000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	72193000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits That Would Impact Effective Tax Rate UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRate	5400000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Income Tax Penalties And Interest Expense UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestExpense	5300000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Income Tax Penalties And Interest Expense UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestExpense	7900000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Income Tax Penalties And Interest Expense UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestExpense	5300000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Significant Change In Unrecognized Tax Benefits Is Reasonably Possible Amount Of Unrecorded Benefit SignificantChangeInUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIsReasonablyPossibleAmountOfUnrecordedBenefit	400000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	398355000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	-114933000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	144326000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	105867000	shares
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
CY2020	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	105867000	shares
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
CY2020	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment WeightedAverageNumberDilutedSharesOutstandingAdjustment	819000	shares
CY2019	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment WeightedAverageNumberDilutedSharesOutstandingAdjustment	0	shares
CY2018	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment WeightedAverageNumberDilutedSharesOutstandingAdjustment	1368000	shares
CY2020	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	106686000	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
CY2020	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	3.76
CY2019	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	-1.09
CY2018	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	1.38
CY2020	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	3.73
CY2019	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	-1.09
CY2018	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	1.36
CY2020	us-gaap	Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount	0	shares
CY2019	us-gaap	Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount	868000	shares
CY2018	us-gaap	Antidilutive Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount	299000	shares
CY2020	us-gaap	Reclassification From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Current Period Before Tax ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodBeforeTax	17077000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Reclassification From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Current Period Before Tax ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodBeforeTax	43016000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Reclassification From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Current Period Before Tax ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodBeforeTax	48593000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Number Of Reportable Segments NumberOfReportableSegments	2	segments
CY2020	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	2711332000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	680673000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Cost Depreciation Amortization And Depletion CostDepreciationAmortizationAndDepletion	202215000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	14462000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	3063117000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	549212000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Noncurrent Assets NoncurrentAssets	3140957000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Cost Depreciation Amortization And Depletion CostDepreciationAmortizationAndDepletion	183701000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	14462000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	2244044000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Gross Profit GrossProfit	392177000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Cost Depreciation Amortization And Depletion CostDepreciationAmortizationAndDepletion	104444000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	2711332000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	3063117000	USD
CY2018	us-gaap	Revenues Revenues	2244044000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Noncurrent Assets NoncurrentAssets	3245722000	USD

Files In Submission

Name	View Source	Status
0001628280-21-003343-index-headers.html	Edgar Link	pending
0001628280-21-003343-index.html	Edgar Link	pending
0001628280-21-003343.txt	Edgar Link	pending
0001628280-21-003343-xbrl.zip	Edgar Link	pending
ex1046firstamendmenttoempl.htm	Edgar Link	pending
ex1047formofperformanceuni.htm	Edgar Link	pending
ex1048formofperformanceuni.htm	Edgar Link	pending
ex1049formofrsuawardagreem.htm	Edgar Link	pending
ex1050formofoptionawardagr.htm	Edgar Link	pending
ex1051formofshareawardagre.htm	Edgar Link	pending
ex1052formofcashincentivea.htm	Edgar Link	pending
ex211listofsubsidiaries2020.htm	Edgar Link	pending
ex231consentofindependentr.htm	Edgar Link	pending
ex3101certificationofchief.htm	Edgar Link	pending
ex3102certificationofchief.htm	Edgar Link	pending
ex3201certificationofchief.htm	Edgar Link	pending
FilingSummary.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
Financial_Report.xlsx	Edgar Link	pending
fslr-20201231.htm	Edgar Link	pending
fslr-20201231.xsd	Edgar Link	pending
fslr-20201231_cal.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
fslr-20201231_def.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
fslr-20201231_g1.jpg	Edgar Link	pending
fslr-20201231_g2.jpg	Edgar Link	pending
fslr-20201231_htm.xml	Edgar Link	completed
fslr-20201231_lab.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
fslr-20201231_pre.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
fslr_logo1.jpg	Edgar Link	pending
MetaLinks.json	Edgar Link	pending
R1.htm	Edgar Link	pending
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report.css	Edgar Link	pending
Show.js	Edgar Link	pending

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$FSLR
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2020 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000162828021003343 Filed on February 26, 2021

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cashflow Statement

Facts In Submission

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$FSLR First Solar Inc Stock $fslr

2020 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000162828021003343 Filed on February 26, 2021

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cashflow Statement

Facts In Submission

Files In Submission

$FSLR
First Solar Inc Stock $fslr