Equity Method Investments (Details) - USD ($) shares in Millions	1 Months Ended			3 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2014	Oct. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Apr. 03, 2016	Mar. 29, 2015	Jan. 03, 2016
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Expenses from Transactions with Related Party				$ 123,630,000	$ 119,177,000
Accounts Receivable, Related Parties				19,116,000		$ 32,389,000
Equity method investments				177,534,000		186,405,000
Pledged Solar Assets, carrying value				77,000,000		78,000,000
Notes Receivable, Related Parties				1,534,000		1,455,000
Accounts Payable, Related Parties				40,032,000		42,080,000
Accrued liabilities, related party				4,887,000		9,952,000
Customer Advances and Deposits, Related Party				0		710,000
Notes Payable, Related Parties				29,400,000		29,389,000
Revenue from sales to investees of products/services				$ 114,645,000	$ 5,603,000
CCPV [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment, ownership percentage				25.00%
Payments to acquire equity method investments			$ 16,400,000
Diamond Energy [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment, ownership percentage		25.00%
Payments to acquire equity method investments		$ 3,000,000
AUOSP [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investments				$ 205,100,000		202,300,000
Equity method investment, ownership percentage				50.00%
Joint venture, energy output committed to purchase, percentage				80.00%
Future financing obligation, year one				$ 169,000,000
Additional cash contributions				50,000,000
8Point3 Energy [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investments				$ (41,000,000)		$ (30,900,000)
Common Stock [Member] | Tendril Networks Inc [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Cost method investment, agreement to purchase additional interest (in shares)	14
Preferred Stock [Member] | Tendril Networks Inc [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Cost method investment, original cost	$ 20,000,000
Tendril Networks Inc [Member] | SunPower Inc [Member] | Master Services Agreement and Statement of Works [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Cost method investments, joint investment in development project	$ 13,000,000