Commitments and Contingencies - Future Financing Commitments (Details) (AUOSP [Member], USD $)	Mar. 31, 2013
AUOSP [Member]
Financing Commitment [Line Items]
Future Financing Obligations Year One	$ 150,211,000
Future Financing Obligations Year Two	96,770,000
Future Financing Obligation	$ 241,000,000

The amount of future financing owed in the current fiscal year of the balance sheet date.

No definition available.

Name:	spwr_FutureFinancingObligationsYearOne
Namespace Prefix:	spwr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant