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SOLAR POWER SYSTEMS, NET (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
SOLAR POWER SYSTEMS
Accumulated depreciation	$ (14,261)	$ (1,173)
Solar power systems, net	1,200,441	96,868
Project Assets Reclassified To Solar Power Systems	347,200	98,000
Project costs reclassified to construction in progress	107,600	22,700
Depreciation expense	80,642	79,895	$ 79,726
Solar power systems
SOLAR POWER SYSTEMS
Depreciation expense	11,340	1,173	$ 0
Solar power systems in operation
SOLAR POWER SYSTEMS
Solar power systems, gross	508,584	75,344
Solar power systems under construction
SOLAR POWER SYSTEMS
Solar power systems, gross	$ 706,118	$ 22,697

X

- Definition

Amount of accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization for physical assets used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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X

- Definition

Represents the amount of project assets reclassified to solar power systems.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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X

- Definition

Represents project costs reclassified to construction in progress.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Amount after accumulated depreciation of ground-mounted projects and roof top systems intend to be held for use.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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X

- Definition

Amount before accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization of solar power systems used in the normal conduct of business.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	csiq_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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- 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

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Namespace Prefix:	csiq_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
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Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The amount of expense recognized in the current period that reflects the allocation of the cost of tangible assets over the assets' useful lives. Includes production and non-production related depreciation.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3602-108585

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X

- Details

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X

- Details

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