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INCOME TAXES - Domestic federal statutory tax rates (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) item	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Income taxes:
Federal and provincial income tax rate (as a percent)	27.00%	27.00%	27.00%
Amount of interest and penalties accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits	$ 4,795	$ 4,398
Changes to the company's liabilities for uncertain tax positions
Beginning balance	15,730	6,181	$ 5,684
Addition for tax positions related to the current year	11	9,806	1,376
Reductions for tax positions from prior years/Statute of limitations expirations	(5,720)		(1,094)
Foreign exchange effect	536		215
Foreign exchange effect		(257)
Ending balance	$ 10,557	$ 15,730	$ 6,181	$ 5,684
Canada
Income taxes:
Federal and provincial income tax rate (as a percent)	26.50%	26.50%	26.50%
Canada | Canadian Solar Solutions Inc.
Income taxes:
Federal and provincial income tax rate (as a percent)	25.00%	25.00%	25.00%
United States | Canadian Solar (USA) Inc.
Income taxes:
Income tax rate (as a percent)	22.89%	24.82%	38.61%
United States | Canadian Solar Energy Acquisition Co.
Income taxes:
Income tax rate (as a percent)	27.89%	25.32%	38.32%
Japan | Canadian Solar Japan K.K.
Income taxes:
Income tax rate (as a percent)	31.78%	32.02%	32.02%
Germany | Canadian Solar EMEA GmbH
Income taxes:
Income tax rate (as a percent)	33.00%	33.00%	33.00%
Vietnam | Canadian Solar Manufacturing Vietnam Co., Ltd
Income taxes:
Income tax rate (as a percent)				10.00%
Reduced income tax rate from 2020 to 2028 (as a percent)	5.00%
Thailand | Canadian Solar Manufacturing (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
Income taxes:
Income tax rate (as a percent)				20.00%
Number of Board of Investment certificates for tax exemption | item	2
Hong Kong | HKSI
Income taxes:
Income tax rate (as a percent)	16.50%	16.50%	16.50%

X

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The domestic federal statutory tax rate and provincial corporate income tax rate applicable under enacted tax laws to the Company's pretax income from continuing operations for the period. The "statutory" tax rate is the regular tax rate if there are alternative tax systems.

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