Represents the number of major customers.

No definition available.

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- Definition

For an unclassified balance sheet, the amount due from customers or clients for goods or services that have been delivered or sold in the normal course of business, reduced to their estimated net realizable fair value by an allowance established by the entity of the amount it deems uncertain of collection.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
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-Publisher FASB
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-Section S99
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

+ Details

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

- Definition

For an entity that discloses a concentration risk in relation to quantitative amount, which serves as the "benchmark" (or denominator) in the equation, this concept represents the concentration percentage derived from the division.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 275
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 18
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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

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

- Definition

Amount of revenue recognized from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an earning process. Includes, but is not limited to, investment and interest income before deduction of interest expense when recognized as a component of revenue, and sales and trading gain (loss).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
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-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis=us-gaap_CustomerConcentrationRiskMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

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Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_MajorCustomersAxis=csiq_CompanyBMember
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- Details

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Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByTypeAxis=us-gaap_CreditConcentrationRiskMember
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Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_MajorCustomersAxis=csiq_CustomerOneMember
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Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_MajorCustomersAxis=csiq_CustomerTwoMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_MajorCustomersAxis=csiq_CustomerThreeMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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MAJOR CUSTOMERS (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
MAJOR CUSTOMERS (Details) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) item	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Major Customers
Number of customers with the largest receivable balances \| item	3
Net revenue \| Customer concentration risk \| Company A
Major Customers
Total net revenues		$ 160,183	$ 214,347
Net revenue \| Customer concentration risk \| Company B
Major Customers
Total net revenues		$ 7,544	$ 218,631
Accounts receivable \| Accounts receivable balances \| Customer one
Major Customers
Concentration risk (as a percent)	9.00%	18.00%
Accounts receivable	$ 34,468	$ 78,630
Accounts receivable \| Accounts receivable balances \| Customer two
Major Customers
Concentration risk (as a percent)	6.00%	5.00%
Accounts receivable \| Accounts receivable balances \| Customer three
Major Customers
Concentration risk (as a percent)	4.00%	4.00%