Name:	csiq_AnnualPercentageIncreaseInAuthorizedSharesOnFirstDayOfEachOfCalendarYearFromYearOfAmendmentForAwardsOtherThanIncentiveOptionShares
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Represents the annual percentage increase in authorized shares on the first business day of each of 2007, 2008 and 2009 prior to the year of amendment for awards other than incentive option shares.

No definition available.

Name:	csiq_AnnualPercentageIncreaseInAuthorizedSharesOnFirstDayOfEachOfThreeYearsPriorToYearOfAmendmentForAwardsOtherThanIncentiveOptionShares
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- References

No definition available.

Name:	csiq_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAggregateIntrinsicValueAbstract
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Represents the number of awards that may be granted under the share incentive plan after the expiration date of May 8, 2021.

No definition available.

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Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
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Represents the expiry term of share options from the date of grant, granted under the share incentive plan.

No definition available.

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Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
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- References

No definition available.

Name:	csiq_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTermAbstract
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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_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems
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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
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Period Type:	duration

Number of shares authorized for issuance under share-based payment arrangement.

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Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Amount of accumulated difference between fair value of underlying shares on dates of exercise and exercise price on options exercised (or share units converted) into shares.

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	duration

Amount by which the current fair value of the underlying stock exceeds the exercise price of options outstanding.

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	instant

Number of options outstanding, including both vested and non-vested options.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120381028&loc=d3e5070-113901

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)(1)(i)-(ii)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120381028&loc=d3e5070-113901

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Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
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Period Type:	instant

A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

No definition available.

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
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Weighted average price at which grantees can acquire the shares reserved for issuance under the stock option plan.

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
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Weighted average price at which option holders acquired shares when converting their stock options into shares.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Amount of cost expensed and capitalized for award under share-based payment arrangement.

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	duration

Weighted average remaining contractual term for option awards outstanding, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

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

Number of share options (or share units) exercised during the current period.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)(1)(iv)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120381028&loc=d3e5070-113901

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120397183&loc=d3e187085-122770

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(28))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(29))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 5: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109259400&loc=d3e21463-112644