Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Mar. 29, 2015	Mar. 30, 2014	Dec. 28, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cost of revenue	$ 350,053us-gaap_CostOfRevenue	$ 529,433us-gaap_CostOfRevenue
Gross margin	90,818us-gaap_GrossProfit	162,989us-gaap_GrossProfit
Revenue	440,871us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	692,422us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
Stock-based compensation expense	(13,546)	(14,867)
Non-cash interest expense	(4,680)spwr_NoncashInterestExpense	(5,170)spwr_NoncashInterestExpense
Residential leases [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cost of revenue	122,772	132,687
Gross margin	32,552	32,031
Depreciation and amortization	10,172	6,035
Revenue	155,324	164,718
Commercial [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cost of revenue	46,880	64,463
Gross margin	2,183	12,041
Depreciation and amortization	3,407	2,803
Revenue	49,063	76,504
Power Plant [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cost of revenue	180,401	332,283
Gross margin	56,083	118,917
Depreciation and amortization	14,984	16,533
Revenue	236,484	451,200
Power Plant [Member] \| Mid American Energy Holdings Company [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Significant Customers as a Percentage Of Total Revenue	33.00%	42.00%
Revenue [Member] \| Residential leases [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	155,324	164,718
Revenue, As reviewed by CODM	155,324	164,718
Revenue [Member] \| Commercial [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	49,063	76,504
Revenue, As reviewed by CODM	49,063	76,504
Revenue [Member] \| Power Plant [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	236,484	451,200
Revenue, As reviewed by CODM	226,214	442,491
Revenue [Member] \| Segment Reconciling Items [Member] \| Residential leases [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue, Utility and power plant project	0	0
Stock-based compensation expense	0	0
Non-cash interest expense	0	0
Revenue, Other	0	0
Revenue [Member] \| Segment Reconciling Items [Member] \| Commercial [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue, Utility and power plant project	0	0
Stock-based compensation expense	0	0
Non-cash interest expense	0	0
Revenue, Other	0	0
Revenue [Member] \| Segment Reconciling Items [Member] \| Power Plant [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue, Utility and power plant project	10,270	8,709
Stock-based compensation expense	0	0
Non-cash interest expense	0	0
Revenue, Other	0	0
Gross margin [Member] \| Residential leases [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gross margin	32,552	32,031
Gross margin, As a percentage of total revenues		19.44596%	20.95748%
Gross margin, As reviewed by CODM	35,278	33,213
Gross margin, As a percentage of total revenues (As reviewed by CODM)	22.71252%	20.16355%
Gross margin [Member] \| Commercial [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gross margin	2,183	12,041
Gross margin, As a percentage of total revenues	4.44938%	15.73905%
Gross margin, As reviewed by CODM	3,025	12,675
Gross margin, As a percentage of total revenues (As reviewed by CODM)	6.16554%	16.56776%
Gross margin [Member] \| Power Plant [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gross margin	56,083	118,917
Gross margin, As a percentage of total revenues	23.71535%	26.35572%
Gross margin, As reviewed by CODM	49,858	104,749
Gross margin, As a percentage of total revenues (As reviewed by CODM)	22.04019%	23.67257%
Gross margin [Member] \| Segment Reconciling Items [Member] \| Residential leases [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gross margin, Utility and power plant projects	0	0
Stock-based compensation expense	922	994
Non-cash interest expense	220	188
Gross margin, Other	1,584	0
Gross margin [Member] \| Segment Reconciling Items [Member] \| Commercial [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gross margin, Utility and power plant projects	0	0
Stock-based compensation expense	(388)	540
Non-cash interest expense	(55)	94
Gross margin, Other	(399)	0
Gross margin [Member] \| Segment Reconciling Items [Member] \| Power Plant [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gross margin, Utility and power plant projects	11,251	16,608
Stock-based compensation expense	(1,256)	2,022
Non-cash interest expense	(342)	418
Gross margin, Other	$ (3,428)	$ 0

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Gross Profit As a Percentage of Total Revenues (as Reviewed by CODM)

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Noncash Interest Expense

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Other, Cost of Revenue

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Profit, Utility and Power Plant Projects

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Represents the expense recognized during the period arising from equity-based compensation arrangements (for example, shares of stock, unit, stock options or other equity instruments) with employees, directors and certain consultants qualifying for treatment as employees.

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The aggregate cost of goods produced and sold and services rendered during the reporting period.

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The amount of expense recognized in the current period that reflects the allocation of the cost of tangible assets over the assets' useful lives. Includes production and non-production related depreciation.

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Revenues from the sale of other goods or rendering of other services, not elsewhere specified in the taxonomy; net of (reduced by) sales adjustments, returns, allowances, and discounts.

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Total revenue from sale of goods and services rendered during the reporting period, in the normal course of business, reduced by sales returns and allowances, and sales discounts.

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