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COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES - Contingencies (Details)
¥ in Thousands, $ in Thousands, € in Millions
 1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Jan. 23, 2018
GW
Mar. 03, 2017
Oct. 19, 2015
CNY (¥)
item
Oct. 19, 2015
USD ($)
item
Jul. 14, 2015
Jun. 03, 2015
¥ / W
Jan. 21, 2015
Nov. 07, 2012
Sep. 30, 2017
Jul. 31, 2017
Jun. 30, 2017
May 31, 2017
CNY (¥)
Jul. 31, 2016
Jun. 30, 2016
Dec. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2012
CNY (¥)
Dec. 31, 2011
EUR (€)
Apr. 30, 2010
item
Jun. 30, 2008
item
Mar. 31, 2017
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2017
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2015
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2011
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2010
USD ($)
item
Dec. 31, 2007
Dec. 31, 2016
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
USD ($)
Contingencies                                                      
Loss contingency accruals                                         $ 25,682         $ 22,654  
Forecast                                                      
Contingencies                                                      
Term of tariff rate quota on import of CSPV cells and modules 4 years                                                    
Number of gigawatts | GW 2.5                                                    
Over-quota tariff rate on import of CSPV cells (as a percent) 30.00%                                                    
Tariff rate on import of CSPV modules (as a percent) 30.00%                                                    
Annual decline in percentage points (as a percent) 5.00%                                                    
Tariff Rate on import of CSPV cells and modules in second year (as a percent) 25.00%                                                    
Tariff Rate on import of CSPV cells and modules in third year (as a percent) 20.00%                                                    
Tariff Rate on import of CSPV cells and modules in fourth year (as a percent) 15.00%                                                    
Class Action Lawsuits Filed in New York                                                      
Contingencies                                                      
Number of subpoenas | item                                               2      
Number of lawsuits filed | item                                               6      
Countervailing and anti-dumping duties investigation                                                      
Contingencies                                                      
Cash deposit rate for anti-dumping duty on CSPV cells imported from China (as a percent)         9.67%   30.06% 13.94%     13.07%     8.52%             13.07%            
Cash deposit rate for countervailing duty on CSPV cells imported from China (as a percent)         20.94%   38.43% 15.24% 33.58% 18.30%     20.94%                            
Estimated cash deposit rate for countervailing duty on CSPV cells imported from China (as a percent)                                         13.72%            
Antidumping margin (as a percent)                                         1.07%            
Cash deposits for module imported from China                                         $ 7,600            
Cash deposit charged into cost of sales                                         7,300            
Cash deposit charged into inventories                                         $ 300            
Anti-dumping and countervailing measures period on CSPV modules and key components (i.e., cells) originating in or consigned from China   18 months                                                  
Canadian Solar-specific subsidies rate (RMB per Watt) | ¥ / W           0.014                                          
Countervailing and anti-dumping duties investigation | Minimum                                                      
Contingencies                                                      
Cash deposit rate for anti-dumping duty on CSPV imported from Taiwan (as a percent)                                         3.56%            
Countervailing and anti-dumping duties investigation | Maximum                                                      
Contingencies                                                      
Cash deposit rate for anti-dumping duty on CSPV imported from Taiwan (as a percent)                                         4.20%            
Third Administrative Review of Solar 1                                                      
Contingencies                                                      
Amount of provision reversed                                         $ 42,600            
First Administrative Review of Solar 2                                                      
Contingencies                                                      
Amount of provision reversed                                         15,000            
Purchase commitment | Deutsche Solar AG                                                      
Contingencies                                                      
Period of supply agreement                                                 12 years    
Amount not accrued due to take-or-pay provision of agreement which are void under the German law                                               $ 21,144      
Amount of damages that plaintiff can claim | €                                 € 148.6                    
Reclassification of provision for accrued losses on firm purchase commitments reserve to loss contingency accrual                                             $ 27,862        
Amount of bad debts allowance against the balance of advance payments                                             $ 17,409        
Loss contingency accruals                                         $ 25,682            
Purchase commitment | LDK                                                      
Contingencies                                                      
Period of supply agreement                                                 3 years    
Amount of bad debts allowance against the balance of advance payments                                                     $ 9,798
Number of long-term supply purchase agreements entered into by the Company | item                                     2                
Number of long-term supply purchase agreements terminated by the Company | item                                   2                  
Litigation settlement or awarded amount     ¥ 132,700 $ 20,800               ¥ 58,500       ¥ 248,900                      
Court expenses | ¥                       ¥ 800                              
Arbitration expenses awarded to counterparty | ¥                               ¥ 2,320                      
Non-cash provision related to arbitration decision                                       $ 8,600              
True up provision                                       $ 8,600              
Number of silicon wafers committed to purchase | item     64,300,000 64,300,000                                              
Period of purchase commitment                             3 years                        
Settlement paid and recognized as General and administrative expenses                                           $ 20,800