Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			0 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2015		Mar. 30, 2014	Mar. 19, 2014	Jan. 28, 2015	Dec. 28, 2014
Leases, Operating [Abstract]
Operating leases, future minimum payments due	$ 52,800,000
Operating lease, term	10 years
Capital Lease Obligations [Abstract]
Capital lease obligations	6,400,000
Capital leases, maximum term	10 years
Purchase commitments supply and price, term	10 years
Purchase Obligation, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
2015	646,615,000
2016	317,916,000
2017	343,806,000
2018	182,181,000
2019	175,695,000
Thereafter	164,847,000
Total	1,831,060,000	[1],[2],[3]
Future purchase obligations to related parties	81,800,000
Future purchase obligations related to non-cancellable purchase orders	203,200,000
Future purchase obligations related to long-term supply agreements	1,600,000,000
Advances to Suppliers [Abstract]
Advances to suppliers	395,800,000					409,700,000
Advances to suppliers, current portion	90,270,000					98,129,000
Advances From Customer, Maturity Profile [Abstract]
2015	19,382,000
2016	25,020,000
2017	27,039,000
2018	27,039,000
2019	28,842,000
Thereafter	43,263,000
Total	170,585,000
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Customer advances, current portion	27,367,000	[4]				31,788,000
Movement in Standard Product Warranty Accrual [Roll Forward]
Product Warranties, beginning	154,648,000		149,372,000			149,372,000
Accruals for warranties issued during the period	8,161,000		5,190,000
Settlements and adjustments during the period	(8,711,000)		3,147,000
Product Warranties, end	154,098,000		151,415,000
Future Financing Commitments [Line Items]
Product liability contingency, minimum performance threshold, buy-back obligation, term	2 years
Liabilities Associated with Uncertain Tax Positions [Abstract]
Unrecognized tax benefits	31,069,000					31,764,000
Unrecognized Tax Benefits Including Income Tax Penalties And Interest Accrued, Current	8,000,000
Unrecognized Tax Benefits Including Income Tax Penalties And Interest Accrued, Non-Current	23,069,000
Net loss on long-term pension liability adjustment	0
First Philec Arbitration [Member]
Loss Contingency [Abstract]
Loss contingency accrual recorded	63,000,000
Solar power systems [Member] | NRG Solar Inc. [Member] | Pending Litigation [Member]
Loss Contingency [Abstract]
Damages sought				75,000,000
First Philippine Solar Corporation [Member] | SunPower Philippines Manufacturing LTD [Member] | First Philec Arbitration [Member] | Judicial Ruling [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Loss Contingency [Abstract]
Court required payments to third party to buyout minority interests, amount					30,300,000
Damages awarded					25,200,000
Other Noncurrent Liabilities [Member]
Liabilities Associated with Uncertain Tax Positions [Abstract]
Defined benefit plan, amounts recognized in Balance Sheet	10,800,000					10,000,000
AUOSP [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Customer advances and deposits	162,700,000					167,200,000
Customer advances, current portion	19,400,000					18,300,000
Future Financing Commitments [Line Items]
Future financing obligation, year one	$ 171,900,000
Supplier Concentration Risk [Member] | Supplier One [Member]
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk, percentage	83.00%					82.00%
Supplier Concentration Risk [Member] | Supplier Two [Member]
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk, percentage	17.00%					17.00%

[1] The Company did not fulfill all of the purchase commitments it was otherwise obligated to take by December 31, 2014, as specified in several related contracts with a supplier. As of March 29, 2015, the Company has recorded an offsetting asset, recorded within "Prepaid expenses and other current assets," and liability, recorded within "Accrued liabilities," totaling $50.4 million. This amount represents the unfulfilled amount as of that date as the Company expects to satisfy the obligation via purchases of inventory in fiscal 2015, within the cure period specified in the contracts.

[2] otal future purchase obligations as of March 29, 2015 include $81.8 million to related parties.

[3] Total future purchase obligations was composed of $203.2 million related to non-cancellable purchase orders and $1.6 billion related to long-term supply agreements.

[4] The Company has related-party balances for transactions made with Total and its affiliates as well as unconsolidated entities in which the Company has a direct equity investment. These related-party balances are recorded within the "Accounts Receivable, net," "Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings," "Prepaid expenses and other current assets," "Other long-term assets," "Accounts payable," "Customer advances, current portion," "Convertible debt, net of current portion," and "Customer advances, net of current portion" financial statement line items in the Consolidated Balance Sheets (see Note 2, Note 6, Note 9, Note 10, and Note 11).