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Represents the carrying amount, as of the balance sheet date, of the borrowings from banking financial institutions.

No definition available.

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Represents the carrying amount, as of the balance sheet date, of the borrowings from non-banking financial institutions.

No definition available.

Name:	csiq_BorrowingsFromNonFinancialInstitutions
Namespace Prefix:	csiq_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

Name:	csiq_DebtInstrumentsFromFinancialInstitutionsAbstract
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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
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Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

Name:	csiq_DebtInstrumentsFromNonFinancialInstitutionsAbstract
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Represents the carrying amount at the balance sheet date of borrowings from a creditor other than a bank, not elsewhere specified in the taxonomy, with a maturity after one year (or beyond operating cycle, if longer) from the date of borrowing.

No definition available.

Name:	csiq_LongTermNonBankLoansAndNotesPayable
Namespace Prefix:	csiq_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Carrying amount at the balance sheet date of borrowings from a creditor other than a bank, (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer), excluding current portion.

No definition available.

Name:	csiq_LongTermNonBankLoansAndNotesPayableNoncurrent
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

The carrying amount, as of the date of the latest financial statement presented, of inventory, which are owned but transferred to serve as collateral for the payment of the related debt obligation, primarily a secured borrowing or repurchase agreement.

No definition available.

Name:	csiq_PledgedAssetsNotSeparatelyReportedInventory
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

The carrying amount, as of the date of the latest financial statement presented, of prepaid land use right, which are owned but transferred to serve as collateral for the payment of the related debt obligation, primarily a secured borrowing or repurchase agreement.

No definition available.

Name:	csiq_PledgedAssetsNotSeparatelyReportedPrepaidLandUseRight
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

The carrying amount, as of the date of the latest financial statement presented, of property, plant and equipment, which are owned but transferred to serve as collateral for the payment of the related debt obligation, primarily a secured borrowing or repurchase agreement.

No definition available.

Name:	csiq_PledgedAssetsNotSeparatelyReportedPropertyPlantAndEquipment
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

The carrying amount, as of the date of the latest financial statement presented, of restricted cash owned but transferred to serve as collateral for the payment of the related debt obligation, primarily a secured borrowing or repurchase agreement, and for which the transferee is not permitted to sell or re-pledge them to an unrelated party.

No definition available.

Name:	csiq_PledgedAssetsNotSeparatelyReportedRestrictedCash
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

The carrying amount, as of the date of the latest financial statement presented, of project assets and solar power systems, which are owned but transferred to serve as collateral for the payment of the related debt obligation, primarily a secured borrowing or repurchase agreement.

No definition available.

Name:	csiq_PledgedAssetsProjectAssetsAndSolarPowerSystems
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

The carrying amount as of the date of the latest financial statement presented of equity which is transferred to serve as collateral for debt obligations, and for which the transferee does not have the right by contract or custom to sell or re-pledge them to an unrelated party.

No definition available.

Name:	csiq_PledgedEquityNotSeparatelyReported
Namespace Prefix:	csiq_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Represents the carrying amount of short-term borrowings secured by assets.

No definition available.

Name:	csiq_SecuredShortTermDebt
Namespace Prefix:	csiq_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

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.

No definition available.

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

Represents the aggregate of total long-term debt, including current maturities and short-term debt.

No definition available.

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

- References

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_DebtLongtermAndShorttermCombinedAmountAbstract
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The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current and noncurrent portions of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-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 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 19, 20, 22
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Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	instant

Amount of borrowing capacity currently available under the credit facility (current borrowing capacity less the amount of borrowings outstanding).

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	instant

Amount of long-term debt, after unamortized discount or premium, scheduled to be repaid within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

Name:	us-gaap_LongTermDebtCurrent
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The total amount due within more than 12 month, or the operating cycle if longer, on all notes payable to banks paid on an installment. This can include the amount of any loans from the applicant firm. This does not, however, include any mortgage balances.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
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-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
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Carrying amount of collateralized debt obligations with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle, if longer, excluding the current portion. Obligations include, but not limited to, mortgage loans, chattel loans, and other borrowings secured by assets.

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Reflects the total carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of debt having initial terms less than one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
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Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
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-Article 9

Name:	us-gaap_ShortTermBorrowings
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Carrying amount at the balance sheet date of borrowings from a creditor other than a bank, not elsewhere specified in the taxonomy, with a maturity within one year (or within one operating cycle if longer) from the date of borrowing.

Name:	us-gaap_ShortTermNonBankLoansAndNotesPayable
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	instant

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember
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Name:	csiq_DebtInstrumentRepaymentPeriodAxis=csiq_RepaymentDueAfter2016Member
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