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Note 7. Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Marketable Securities (Details) (USD $)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Marketable Securities [Line Items]        
Cash and cash equivalents $ 1,482,054,000us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue $ 1,325,072,000us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue $ 901,294,000us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue $ 605,619,000us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
Marketable securities 509,032,000us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities 439,102,000us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities    
Total cash, cash equivalents, marketable securities, and investments 1,991,086,000us-gaap_InvestmentsAndCash 1,764,174,000us-gaap_InvestmentsAndCash    
Available-for-sale securities, gross realized gains 200,000us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedGains      
Marketable securities, in loss position for 12 months or greater, estimated fair value 41,100,000us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionTwelveMonthsOrLongerFairValue 0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionTwelveMonthsOrLongerFairValue    
Foreign debt [Member]        
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Marketable Securities [Line Items]        
Marketable securities 462,731,000us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= fslr_ForeignDebtMember
364,046,000us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= fslr_ForeignDebtMember
   
Marketable securities, in loss position for 12 months or greater, estimated fair value 41,060,000us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionTwelveMonthsOrLongerFairValue
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= fslr_ForeignDebtMember
0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionTwelveMonthsOrLongerFairValue
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= fslr_ForeignDebtMember
   
Foreign government obligations [Member]        
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Marketable Securities [Line Items]        
Marketable securities 0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember
25,115,000us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember
   
Marketable securities, in loss position for 12 months or greater, estimated fair value   0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionTwelveMonthsOrLongerFairValue
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember
   
Time deposits [Member]        
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Marketable Securities [Line Items]        
Marketable securities 40,000,000us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_BankTimeDepositsMember
0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_BankTimeDepositsMember
   
U.S. debt [Member]        
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Marketable Securities [Line Items]        
Marketable securities 2,800,000us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= fslr_U.S.debtMember
46,439,000us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= fslr_U.S.debtMember
   
Marketable securities, in loss position for 12 months or greater, estimated fair value   0us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionTwelveMonthsOrLongerFairValue
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= fslr_U.S.debtMember
   
U.S. government obligations [Member]        
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Marketable Securities [Line Items]        
Marketable securities 3,501,000us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_USGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember
3,502,000us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecurities
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_USGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember
   
Cash [Member]        
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Marketable Securities [Line Items]        
Cash and cash equivalents 1,480,452,000us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= us-gaap_CashMember
1,322,183,000us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= us-gaap_CashMember
   
Money Market Funds [Member]        
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Marketable Securities [Line Items]        
Cash and cash equivalents $ 1,602,000us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= us-gaap_MoneyMarketFundsMember
$ 2,889,000us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
/ us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= us-gaap_MoneyMarketFundsMember