Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Jan. 27, 2019	Jul. 01, 2018
Document Documentand Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2018
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2018
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Trading Symbol	CGNX
Entity Registrant Name	COGNEX CORP
Entity Central Index Key	0000851205
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		170,831,424
Entity Public Float			$ 7,312,677,834