Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Feb. 28, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Entity Registrant Name	VICOR CORP
Entity Central Index Key	0000751978
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2012
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float			$ 138,170,000
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		30,043,777
Class B Common Stock
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		11,767,052