Selected Quarterly Financial Data (unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended												12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Consolidated revenue		$ 155,272	$ 157,272	$ 151,980	$ 180,712	$ 164,511	$ 176,568	$ 165,869	$ 177,264	$ 152,907	$ 159,467	$ 156,431
Gross profit	$ 71,756	67,281	73,299	65,705	82,553	77,810	86,162	77,869	85,458	58,522	80,673	80,186	$ 278,041	$ 324,394	$ 304,839
Total operating expenses	76,455	79,215	92,465	87,010	89,572	88,794	93,884	95,335	91,161	90,857	87,537	89,257	335,145	367,585	358,812
Loss from operations	(4,699)	(11,934)	(19,166)	(21,305)	(7,019)	(10,984)	(7,722)	(17,466)	(5,703)	(32,335)	(6,864)	(9,071)	(57,104)	(43,191)	(53,973)
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	1,260	(2,010)	(1,938)	(1,844)	4,051	(1,593)	(2,539)	(1,954)	(971)	(3,723)	(2,067)	(1,041)	(4,532)	(2,035)	(7,802)
Net loss attributable to 3D Systems	$ (4,714)	$ (16,843)	$ (23,929)	$ (24,394)	$ (4,136)	$ (11,550)	$ (8,862)	$ (20,957)	$ (10,134)	$ (37,670)	$ (8,416)	$ (9,971)	$ (69,880)	$ (45,505)	$ (66,191)
Net loss per share available to 3D Systems Corporation common stockholders - basic and diluted (in usd per share)	$ (0.04)	$ (0.15)	$ (0.21)	$ (0.22)	$ (0.04)	$ (0.10)	$ (0.08)	$ (0.19)	$ (0.08)	$ (0.34)	$ (0.08)	$ (0.09)	$ (0.61)	$ (0.41)	$ (0.59)