Long-Term Debt Obligations - Summary of Debt (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance	$ 12,159,689	$ 10,998,150
Net Carrying Value, Current	1,459,828	2,221,985
Net Carrying Value, Long- Term	9,905,847	8,410,490
Unused Committed Amount	$ 1,793,666	1,256,632
Solar Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Contractual Interest Rate	2.50%
Solar asset-backed notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Net Carrying Value, Long- Term	$ 1,169,430	1,183,675
Solar Loan-backed Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Net Carrying Value, Long- Term	189,956	203,052
Solar Renewable Energy Credit and other Loans [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance	24,995	26,742
Net Carrying Value, Current	21,417	16,612
Net Carrying Value, Long- Term	3,106	9,836
Unused Committed Amount	$ 27,201	$ 17,633
Contractual Maturity Date, Start	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019
Contractual Maturity Date, End	Jul. 31, 2021	Jul. 31, 2021
Solar Renewable Energy Credit and other Loans [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Contractual Interest Rate	4.40%	5.10%
Solar Renewable Energy Credit and other Loans [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Contractual Interest Rate	8.20%	7.90%
Recourse debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance	$ 8,551,160	$ 7,387,420
Net Carrying Value, Current	712,998	1,455,017
Net Carrying Value, Long- Term	7,100,003	5,625,567
Unused Committed Amount	505,993	230,999
Recourse debt [Member] \| 0.25% Convertible Senior Notes due in 2019 ("2019 Notes") [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		920,000
Net Carrying Value, Current		$ 912,625
Contractual Interest Rate		0.25%
Contractual Maturity Date		2019-03
Recourse debt [Member] \| 1.25% Convertible Senior Notes due in 2021 ("2021 Notes") [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance	1,380,000	$ 1,380,000
Net Carrying Value, Long- Term	$ 1,273,206	$ 1,243,496
Contractual Interest Rate	1.25%	1.25%
Contractual Maturity Date	2021-03	2021-03
Recourse debt [Member] \| 2.375% Convertible Senior Notes due in 2022 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance	$ 977,500	$ 977,500
Net Carrying Value, Long- Term	$ 886,513	$ 871,326
Contractual Interest Rate	2.375%	2.375%
Contractual Maturity Date	2022-03	2022-03
Recourse debt [Member] \| 2.00% Convertible Senior Notes due in 2024 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance	$ 1,840,000
Net Carrying Value, Long- Term	$ 1,340,143
Contractual Interest Rate	2.00%
Contractual Maturity Date	2024-05
Recourse debt [Member] \| 5.30% Senior Notes due in 2025 ("2025 Notes") [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance	$ 1,800,000	$ 1,800,000
Net Carrying Value, Long- Term	$ 1,780,345	$ 1,778,756
Contractual Interest Rate	5.30%	5.30%
Contractual Maturity Date	2025-08	2025-08
Recourse debt [Member] \| Credit Agreement [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance	$ 1,740,000	$ 1,540,000
Net Carrying Value, Current	141,711
Net Carrying Value, Long- Term	1,598,289	1,540,000
Unused Committed Amount	$ 504,993	$ 230,999
Debt instrument interest rate description		1% plus LIBOR
Contractual Maturity Date		2020-06
Contractual Maturity Date, Start	Jun. 30, 2020
Contractual Maturity Date, End	Jul. 31, 2023
Recourse debt [Member] \| Credit Agreement [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Contractual Interest Rate	3.40%
Recourse debt [Member] \| Credit Agreement [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Contractual Interest Rate	5.50%
Recourse debt [Member] \| 1.625% Convertible Senior Notes due in 2019 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance	$ 565,992	$ 565,992
Net Carrying Value, Current	$ 556,575	$ 541,070
Contractual Interest Rate	1.625%	1.625%
Contractual Maturity Date	2019-11	2019-11
Recourse debt [Member] \| Zero-Coupon Convertible Senior Notes due in 2020 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance	$ 103,000	$ 103,000
Net Carrying Value, Long- Term	$ 94,559	$ 91,799
Contractual Interest Rate	0.00%	0.00%
Contractual Maturity Date	2020-12	2020-12
Recourse debt [Member] \| Vehicle, Solar Bonds and other Loans [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance	$ 144,668	$ 100,928
Net Carrying Value, Current	14,712	1,322
Net Carrying Value, Long- Term	126,948	$ 100,190
Unused Committed Amount	$ 1,000
Contractual Maturity Date, Start	Sep. 30, 2019	Jan. 31, 2019
Contractual Maturity Date, End	Jan. 31, 2031	Jan. 31, 2031
Recourse debt [Member] \| Vehicle, Solar Bonds and other Loans [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Contractual Interest Rate	1.80%	1.80%
Recourse debt [Member] \| Vehicle, Solar Bonds and other Loans [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Contractual Interest Rate	6.80%	7.60%
Non-recourse debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance	$ 3,608,529	$ 3,610,730
Net Carrying Value, Current	746,830	766,968
Net Carrying Value, Long- Term	2,805,844	2,784,923
Unused Committed Amount	1,287,673	1,025,633
Non-recourse debt [Member] \| Warehouse Agreements [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance	321,650	92,000
Net Carrying Value, Current	45,452	13,604
Net Carrying Value, Long- Term	276,198	78,396
Unused Committed Amount	$ 778,350	$ 1,008,000
Contractual Maturity Date	2020-09	2020-09
Non-recourse debt [Member] \| Warehouse Agreements [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Contractual Interest Rate	3.80%	3.90%
Non-recourse debt [Member] \| Warehouse Agreements [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Contractual Interest Rate	4.10%	4.20%
Non-recourse debt [Member] \| Canada Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance	$ 56,639	$ 73,220
Net Carrying Value, Current	28,878	31,766
Net Carrying Value, Long- Term	$ 27,761	$ 41,454
Contractual Maturity Date	2022-11	2022-11
Non-recourse debt [Member] \| Canada Credit Facility [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Contractual Interest Rate	3.60%	3.60%
Non-recourse debt [Member] \| Canada Credit Facility [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Contractual Interest Rate	5.90%	5.90%
Non-recourse debt [Member] \| Term Loan due in 2019 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance	$ 161,944	$ 180,624
Net Carrying Value, Current	$ 161,944	$ 180,624
Contractual Interest Rate	5.90%	6.10%
Contractual Maturity Date	2019-12	2019-01
Non-recourse debt [Member] \| Term Loan due in 2021 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance	$ 166,152	$ 169,050
Net Carrying Value, Current	7,284	6,876
Net Carrying Value, Long- Term	$ 158,313	$ 161,453
Contractual Interest Rate	6.10%	6.00%
Contractual Maturity Date	2021-01	2021-01
Non-recourse debt [Member] \| China Loan Agreement [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance	$ 27,478
Net Carrying Value, Current	27,478
Unused Committed Amount	$ 482,122
Contractual Interest Rate	3.90%
Contractual Maturity Date	2020-03
Non-recourse debt [Member] \| Solar Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance	$ 41,908
Net Carrying Value, Long- Term	$ 41,908
Contractual Interest Rate	6.00%
Contractual Maturity Date	2022-06
Non-recourse debt [Member] \| Cash equity debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance	$ 461,926	$ 466,837
Net Carrying Value, Current	9,401	10,911
Net Carrying Value, Long- Term	$ 438,534	$ 441,472
Contractual Maturity Date, Start	Jul. 31, 2033	Jul. 31, 2033
Contractual Maturity Date, End	Jan. 31, 2035	Jan. 31, 2035
Non-recourse debt [Member] \| Cash equity debt [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Contractual Interest Rate	5.30%	5.30%
Non-recourse debt [Member] \| Cash equity debt [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Contractual Interest Rate	5.80%	5.80%
Non-recourse debt [Member] \| Solar asset-backed notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance	$ 1,198,962	$ 1,214,071
Net Carrying Value, Current	33,640	28,761
Net Carrying Value, Long- Term	$ 1,135,790	$ 1,154,914
Contractual Maturity Date, Start	Sep. 30, 2024	Sep. 30, 2024
Contractual Maturity Date, End	Feb. 29, 2048	Feb. 29, 2048
Non-recourse debt [Member] \| Solar asset-backed notes [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Contractual Interest Rate	4.00%	4.00%
Non-recourse debt [Member] \| Solar asset-backed notes [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Contractual Interest Rate	7.70%	7.70%
Non-recourse debt [Member] \| Solar Loan-backed Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance	$ 196,924	$ 210,249
Net Carrying Value, Current	10,671	9,888
Net Carrying Value, Long- Term	$ 179,285	$ 193,164
Contractual Maturity Date, Start	Sep. 30, 2048	Sep. 30, 2048
Contractual Maturity Date, End	Sep. 30, 2049	Sep. 30, 2049
Non-recourse debt [Member] \| Solar Loan-backed Notes [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Contractual Interest Rate	4.80%	4.80%
Non-recourse debt [Member] \| Solar Loan-backed Notes [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Contractual Interest Rate	7.50%	7.50%
Non-recourse debt [Member] \| Automotive Asset-backed Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance	$ 949,951	$ 1,177,937
Net Carrying Value, Current	400,665	467,926
Net Carrying Value, Long- Term	$ 544,949	$ 704,234
Contractual Maturity Date, Start	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019
Contractual Maturity Date, End	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2022
Non-recourse debt [Member] \| Automotive Asset-backed Notes [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Contractual Interest Rate	2.30%	2.30%
Non-recourse debt [Member] \| Automotive Asset-backed Notes [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Contractual Interest Rate	7.90%	7.90%

Debt instrument contractual maturity month and year.

No definition available.

Name:	tsla_DebtInstrumentContractualMaturityMonthAndYear
Namespace Prefix:	tsla_
Data Type:	xbrli:gYearMonthItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of short-term debt and current maturity of long-term debt and capital lease obligations due within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19,20)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount, before unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt. Includes, but is not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (b)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109500613&loc=SL6031897-161870

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(22))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The reference rate for the variable rate of the debt instrument, such as LIBOR or the US Treasury rate and the maturity of the reference rate used, such as three months or six months LIBOR.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentDescriptionOfVariableRateBasis
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Latest date the outstanding debt instruments are required to be repaid, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(2))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentMaturityDateRangeEnd1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Earliest date the outstanding debt instruments are required to be repaid, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(2))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentMaturityDateRangeStart1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of unused borrowing capacity under the long-term financing arrangement that is available to the entity as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnusedBorrowingCapacityAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount, after unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (b)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109500613&loc=SL6031897-161870

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(a)(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(22))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant