Leasing (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
		Apr. 03, 2016		Mar. 29, 2015	Jan. 03, 2016	Dec. 28, 2014
Leasing [Line Items]
Pledged Assets, Not Separately Reported, Finance Receivables		$ 69,500			$ 0
Capital leases, maximum term					20 years
Solar power systems leased and to be leased [Abstract]
Solar power systems leased, gross	[1],[2]	573,628			$ 543,358
Solar power systems to be leased, gross	[1],[2]	39,811			34,319
Solar Power Systems Leased And To Be Leased, Gross	[1],[2]	613,439			577,677
Accumulated depreciation - residential lease	[1],[2]	(51,905)			(46,157)
Solar Power Systems Leased And To Be Leased, Net	[1],[2]	561,534			531,520
Pledged Solar Assets, book value		94,100			0
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Receivable [Abstract]
2015	[3]	13,037
2016	[3]	18,625
2017	[3]	18,662
2018	[3]	18,699
2019	[3]	18,738
Thereafter	[3]	264,210
Minimum future rental receipts	[3]	351,971
Financing receivables:
Financing receivable, gross	[5]	416,559	[4]		366,759
Unguaranteed residual value		55,699			50,722
Unearned income		(79,385)			(70,155)
Net financing receivables		392,873			347,326
Current		14,071			12,535
Long-term		378,802			334,791
Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments Receivable, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]
2015	[4]	15,537
2016	[4]	20,716
2017	[4]	20,887
2018	[4]	21,066
2019	[4]	21,249
Thereafter	[4]	317,104
Financing receivable, gross	[5]	416,559	[4]		366,759
Third-Party Financing Arrangements [Abstract]
Short-term residential lease financing		13,340			$ 7,395
Contributions from noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests		24,082		$ 45,890
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest - leasing operations		16,700		19,600
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests		16,008		$ 19,469
Sale-Leaseback [Abstract]
Sale leaseback transactions, lease term					20 years	20 years
Sale Leaseback, Residential customers lease term					25 years
Future minimum lease obligations		84,800
Operating lease, term						20 years
Sale leaseback, minimum lease obligation		102,500
Long-term sale-leaseback financing		$ 126,230			$ 125,286

[1] 2 As of April 3, 2016 and January 3, 2016, the Company had pledged solar assets with an aggregate book value of $94.1 million and zero, respectively, to third-party investors as security for the Company's contractual obligations.

[2] Solar power systems leased and to be leased, net are physically located exclusively in the United States.

[3] Minimum future rentals on operating leases placed in service does not include contingent rentals that may be received from customers under agreements that include performance-based incentives nor does it include rent receivables on operating leases sold to the 8point3 Group.

[4] Minimum future rentals on sales-type leases placed in service does not include contingent rentals that may be received from customers under agreements that include performance-based incentives.

[5] {F|ahBzfndlYmZpbGluZ3MtaHJkcmoLEgZYTUxEb2MiXlhCUkxEb2NHZW5JbmZvOjE5NDdmY2IxNDJkYTRiZjk4YTIxYzY3NTg3MTVjZWU2fFRleHRTZWxlY3Rpb246MDg5QUM3NEI1NkJEQTJBN0YyQzNBMDJGRjk4RjNEM0EM}