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INCOME TAXES (Details 2) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2014 Canada | Dec. 31, 2013 Canada | Dec. 31, 2012 Canada | Dec. 31, 2014 Canada Canadian Solar Solutions Inc. | Dec. 31, 2013 Canada Canadian Solar Solutions Inc. | Dec. 31, 2012 Canada Canadian Solar Solutions Inc. | Dec. 31, 2014 United States Canadian Solar (USA) Inc. | Dec. 31, 2013 United States Canadian Solar (USA) Inc. | Dec. 31, 2012 United States Canadian Solar (USA) Inc. | Dec. 31, 2014 Japan Canadian Solar Japan K.K. | Dec. 31, 2013 Japan Canadian Solar Japan K.K. | Dec. 31, 2012 Japan Canadian Solar Japan K.K. | Dec. 31, 2014 Germany Canadian Solar EMEA GmbH | Dec. 31, 2013 Germany Canadian Solar EMEA GmbH | Dec. 31, 2012 Germany Canadian Solar EMEA GmbH | Dec. 31, 2014 Hong Kong HKSI | Dec. 31, 2013 Hong Kong HKSI | Dec. 31, 2012 Hong Kong HKSI | Dec. 31, 2014 PRC CNY | Dec. 31, 2014 PRC CSI Solartronics (Changshu) Co., Ltd. | Dec. 31, 2014 PRC CSI Solar Technologies Inc. | Dec. 31, 2013 PRC CSI Solar Technologies Inc. | Dec. 31, 2012 PRC CSI Solar Technologies Inc. | Dec. 31, 2014 PRC SZCC, or CSI Cells | Dec. 31, 2013 PRC SZCC, or CSI Cells | Dec. 31, 2012 PRC SZCC, or CSI Cells | Dec. 31, 2014 PRC Canadian Solar Manufacturing (Luoyang) Inc. | Dec. 31, 2013 PRC Canadian Solar Manufacturing (Luoyang) Inc. | Dec. 31, 2012 PRC Canadian Solar Manufacturing (Luoyang) Inc. | Dec. 31, 2014 PRC Canadian Solar Manufacturing (Changshu) Inc. | Dec. 31, 2013 PRC Canadian Solar Manufacturing (Changshu) Inc. | Dec. 31, 2012 PRC Canadian Solar Manufacturing (Changshu) Inc. | Dec. 31, 2014 PRC SZSP | Dec. 31, 2014 PRC Suzhou Sanysolar Materials Technology Co., Ltd. | Dec. 31, 2013 PRC Suzhou Sanysolar Materials Technology Co., Ltd. | Dec. 31, 2012 PRC Suzhou Sanysolar Materials Technology Co., Ltd.
Income Taxes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Federal and provincial income tax rate (as a percent) | 27.00%csiq_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalAndProvincialIncomeTaxRate | 27.00%csiq_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalAndProvincialIncomeTaxRate | 27.00%csiq_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalAndProvincialIncomeTaxRate | 26.50%csiq_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalAndProvincialIncomeTaxRate / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = us-gaap_DomesticCountryMember | 26.50%csiq_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalAndProvincialIncomeTaxRate / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = us-gaap_DomesticCountryMember | 26.50%csiq_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalAndProvincialIncomeTaxRate / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = us-gaap_DomesticCountryMember | 25.00%csiq_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalAndProvincialIncomeTaxRate / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = us-gaap_DomesticCountryMember / dei_LegalEntityAxis = csiq_CanadianSolarSolutionsIncMember | 26.50%csiq_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalAndProvincialIncomeTaxRate / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = us-gaap_DomesticCountryMember / dei_LegalEntityAxis = csiq_CanadianSolarSolutionsIncMember | 26.50%csiq_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalAndProvincialIncomeTaxRate / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = us-gaap_DomesticCountryMember / dei_LegalEntityAxis = csiq_CanadianSolarSolutionsIncMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Income tax rate (as a percent) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 37.95%csiq_IncomeTaxesForeignCorporateTaxRate / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = country_US / dei_LegalEntityAxis = csiq_CanadianSolarUSAIncMember | 38.10%csiq_IncomeTaxesForeignCorporateTaxRate / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = country_US / dei_LegalEntityAxis = csiq_CanadianSolarUSAIncMember | 35.55%csiq_IncomeTaxesForeignCorporateTaxRate / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = country_US / dei_LegalEntityAxis = csiq_CanadianSolarUSAIncMember | 35.64%csiq_IncomeTaxesForeignCorporateTaxRate / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = country_JP / dei_LegalEntityAxis = csiq_CanadianSolarJapanKKMember | 38.01%csiq_IncomeTaxesForeignCorporateTaxRate / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = country_JP / dei_LegalEntityAxis = csiq_CanadianSolarJapanKKMember | 40.69%csiq_IncomeTaxesForeignCorporateTaxRate / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = country_JP / dei_LegalEntityAxis = csiq_CanadianSolarJapanKKMember | 33.00%csiq_IncomeTaxesForeignCorporateTaxRate / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = country_DE / dei_LegalEntityAxis = csiq_CanadianSolarEMEAGmbHMember | 33.00%csiq_IncomeTaxesForeignCorporateTaxRate / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = country_DE / dei_LegalEntityAxis = csiq_CanadianSolarEMEAGmbHMember | 33.00%csiq_IncomeTaxesForeignCorporateTaxRate / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = country_DE / dei_LegalEntityAxis = csiq_CanadianSolarEMEAGmbHMember | 16.50%csiq_IncomeTaxesForeignCorporateTaxRate / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = country_HK / dei_LegalEntityAxis = csiq_CanadianSolarInternationalLtdMember | 16.50%csiq_IncomeTaxesForeignCorporateTaxRate / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = country_HK / dei_LegalEntityAxis = csiq_CanadianSolarInternationalLtdMember | 16.50%csiq_IncomeTaxesForeignCorporateTaxRate / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = country_HK / dei_LegalEntityAxis = csiq_CanadianSolarInternationalLtdMember | 25.00%csiq_IncomeTaxesForeignCorporateTaxRate / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = country_CN | 25.00%csiq_IncomeTaxesForeignCorporateTaxRate / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = country_CN / dei_LegalEntityAxis = csiq_CSISolartronicsChangshuCoLtdMember | 25.00%csiq_IncomeTaxesForeignCorporateTaxRate / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = country_CN / dei_LegalEntityAxis = csiq_CSISolarTechnologiesIncMember | 25.00%csiq_IncomeTaxesForeignCorporateTaxRate / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = country_CN / dei_LegalEntityAxis = csiq_CSISolarTechnologiesIncMember | 12.50%csiq_IncomeTaxesForeignCorporateTaxRate / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = country_CN / dei_LegalEntityAxis = csiq_CSISolarTechnologiesIncMember | 25.00%csiq_IncomeTaxesForeignCorporateTaxRate / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = country_CN / dei_LegalEntityAxis = csiq_CSICellsCoLtdMember | 25.00%csiq_IncomeTaxesForeignCorporateTaxRate / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = country_CN / dei_LegalEntityAxis = csiq_CSICellsCoLtdMember | 15.00%csiq_IncomeTaxesForeignCorporateTaxRate / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = country_CN / dei_LegalEntityAxis = csiq_CSICellsCoLtdMember | 25.00%csiq_IncomeTaxesForeignCorporateTaxRate / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = country_CN / dei_LegalEntityAxis = csiq_CanadianSolarManufacturingLuoyangIncMember | 25.00%csiq_IncomeTaxesForeignCorporateTaxRate / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = country_CN / dei_LegalEntityAxis = csiq_CanadianSolarManufacturingLuoyangIncMember | 25.00%csiq_IncomeTaxesForeignCorporateTaxRate / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = country_CN / dei_LegalEntityAxis = csiq_CanadianSolarManufacturingLuoyangIncMember | 25.00%csiq_IncomeTaxesForeignCorporateTaxRate / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = country_CN / dei_LegalEntityAxis = csiq_CanadianSolarManufacturingChangshuIncMember | 25.00%csiq_IncomeTaxesForeignCorporateTaxRate / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = country_CN / dei_LegalEntityAxis = csiq_CanadianSolarManufacturingChangshuIncMember | 12.50%csiq_IncomeTaxesForeignCorporateTaxRate / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = country_CN / dei_LegalEntityAxis = csiq_CanadianSolarManufacturingChangshuIncMember | 25.00%csiq_IncomeTaxesForeignCorporateTaxRate / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = country_CN / dei_LegalEntityAxis = csiq_CSISolarPowerChinaIncMember | 15.00%csiq_IncomeTaxesForeignCorporateTaxRate / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = country_CN / dei_LegalEntityAxis = csiq_SuzhouSanysolarMaterialsTechnologyCoLtdMember | 15.00%csiq_IncomeTaxesForeignCorporateTaxRate / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = country_CN / dei_LegalEntityAxis = csiq_SuzhouSanysolarMaterialsTechnologyCoLtdMember | 25.00%csiq_IncomeTaxesForeignCorporateTaxRate / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = country_CN / dei_LegalEntityAxis = csiq_SuzhouSanysolarMaterialsTechnologyCoLtdMember
Amount of interest and penalties accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits | $ 4,734,706 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestAccrued | $ 4,191,070 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestAccrued |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Period of statute of limitations |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Period of statute of limitations under special circumstances |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Threshold for underpayment of income tax liability that is listed as a special circumstance |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 100,000 csiq_StatuteOfLimitationsSpecialCircumstanceThresholdForUnderpaymentOfIncomeTaxLiability / us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis = country_CN |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Period of statute of limitations for transfer pricing related adjustment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 10 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Transition period of the new EIT Law |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5 years |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Changes to the company's liabilities for uncertain tax positions |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Beginning balance | 13,000,601 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits | 11,242,208 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits | 9,453,041 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Addition for tax positions related to the current year | 402,548 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions | 1,806,512 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions | 1,789,167 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Reductions for tax positions from prior years/Statute of limitations expirations | (2,558,867)csiq_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositionsAndOrLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations | (48,119)csiq_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositionsAndOrLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Ending balance | $ 10,844,282 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits | $ 13,000,601 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits | $ 11,242,208 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

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