CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Operating activities:
Net (loss) income	$ (6,253)	$ 1,660
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	9,322	8,720
Stock-based compensation	5,316	3,400
Provisions for bad debts, net of recoveries	2	211
Loss on disposal of assets	348	165
Provision for excess and obsolete inventory	1,481	504
Deferred income tax benefit	(11)	(190)
Impairment charge on equity method investment	1,535	0
Decrease (Increase) in:
Accounts receivable	14,442	252
Inventories	(9,687)	(6,664)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	2,282	(3,526)
(Decrease) Increase in:
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities, and lease liability	(7,793)	(2,901)
Increase in contract with customer liablity	6,327	0
Income taxes payable	(3,119)	(4,378)
Unearned service revenues	6,327	0
Net cash provided by operating activities	17,744	7
Investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment	(3,693)	(5,164)
Payments for intangible assets	(1,233)	(1,186)
Acquisition of businesses	0	(3,965)
Equity investments and advances to affiliates	0	(1,786)
Net cash used in investing activities	(4,926)	(12,101)
Financing activities:
Payments on finance leases	(187)	(46)
Payments of contingent consideration for acquisitions	(250)	0
Payments for taxes related to net share settlement of equity awards	(1,440)	0
Proceeds from issuance of stock related to stock option exercises	735	7,133
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(1,142)	7,087
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	145	(2,399)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	11,821	(7,406)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	108,783	140,960
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	120,604	133,554
Customer deposits
(Decrease) Increase in:
Increase in contract with customer liablity	(446)	382
Unearned service revenues	(446)	382
Unearned service revenues
(Decrease) Increase in:
Increase in contract with customer liablity	3,998	2,372
Unearned service revenues	$ 3,998	$ 2,372

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Amount of noncash expense for share-based payment arrangement.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	srt_ProductOrServiceAxis=faro_CustomerdepositsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ProductOrServiceAxis=faro_UnearnedservicerevenuesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: