CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid In Capital	Treasury Stock	Accumulated (Deficit) Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income	Total 3D Systems Corporation Stockholders' Equity	Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 654,646	$ 113	$ 1,279,738	$ (1,026)	$ (583,368)	$ (39,548)	$ 655,909	$ (1,263)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance (repurchase) of stock	(2,871)	2	(1,241)	(1,632)			(2,871)
Issuance of stock for acquisitions	0
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest	(3,533)		(2,364)				(2,364)	(1,169)
Stock-based compensation expense	31,295		31,295				31,295
Net loss	(39,265)				(38,419)		(38,419)	(846)
Liquidation of non-US entity	288					288	288
Pension adjustment	(902)					(902)	(902)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(12,958)					(13,063)	(13,063)	105
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 626,700	115	1,307,428	(2,658)	(621,787)	(53,225)	629,873	(3,173)
Common stock, par value (in usd per share)	$ 0.001
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance (repurchase) of stock	$ (5,545)			(5,545)			(5,545)
Issuance of stock for acquisitions	3,208		3,208
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest	(2,300)		(1,440)				(1,440)	(860)
Stock-based compensation expense	27,260		27,260				27,260
Net loss	(65,323)				(66,191)		(66,191)	868
Liquidation of non-US entity	50					50	50
Pension adjustment	220					220	220
Foreign currency translation adjustment	31,678					31,419	31,419	259
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 615,948	115	1,326,250	(8,203)	(677,772)	(21,536)	618,854	(2,906)
Common stock, par value (in usd per share)	$ 0.001
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance (repurchase) of stock	$ (7,367)	2		(7,369)			(7,367)
Issuance of stock for acquisitions	0
Stock-based compensation expense	29,253		29,253				29,253
Net loss	(45,263)				(45,505)		(45,505)	242
Liquidation of non-US entity	0
Pension adjustment	(92)					(92)	(92)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(17,068)					(17,350)	(17,350)	282
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 575,987	$ 117	$ 1,355,503	$ (15,572)	$ (722,701)	$ (38,978)	$ 578,369	$ (2,382)
Common stock, par value (in usd per share)	$ 0.001