Name:	csiq_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalAndProvincialIncomeTaxRate
Namespace Prefix:	csiq_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents the corporate income tax rate in foreign jurisdiction.

No definition available.

Name:	csiq_IncomeTaxesForeignCorporateTaxRate
Namespace Prefix:	csiq_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The number of board of investment certificates for tax exemption.

No definition available.

Name:	csiq_NumberOfBoardOfInvestmentCertificatesTaxExemption
Namespace Prefix:	csiq_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Represents adjustments related to status of limitations expirations.

No definition available.

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

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

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

No definition available.

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

Amount of unrecognized tax benefits.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 10B
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123427490&loc=SL37586934-109318

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 15A
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121826272&loc=SL6600010-109319

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

Amount of decrease in unrecognized tax benefits resulting from foreign currency translation.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 15A
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121826272&loc=SL6600010-109319

Name:	us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromForeignCurrencyTranslation
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Amount of decrease in unrecognized tax benefits resulting from tax positions taken in prior period tax returns.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 15A
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121826272&loc=SL6600010-109319

Name:	us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Amount accrued for interest on an underpayment of income taxes and penalties related to a tax position claimed or expected to be claimed in the tax return.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 15
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121826272&loc=d3e32718-109319

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

Amount of increase in unrecognized tax benefits resulting from foreign currency translation.

Name:	us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromForeignCurrencyTranslation
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis=us-gaap_DomesticCountryMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=csiq_CanadianSolarSolutionsIncMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis=country_US
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=csiq_CanadianSolarUSAIncMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=csiq_CanadianSolarSsesUsIncMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=csiq_RecurrentEnergyGroupInc.Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis=country_JP
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=csiq_CanadianSolarJapanKKMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis=country_SG
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=csiq_CanadianSolarEnergyHoldingSingaporePte.LtdMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis=country_DE
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=csiq_CanadianSolarEMEAGmbHMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis=country_TH
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=csiq_CanadianSolarManufacturingThailandCo.Ltd.Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis=country_HK
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=csiq_CanadianSolarInternationalLtdMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis=country_BR
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: