Cover page - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Feb. 15, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Document Annual Report	true
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2020
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	0-23081
Entity Registrant Name	FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	FL
Entity Tax Identification Number	59-3157093
Entity Address, Address Line One	250 Technology Park,
Entity Address, City or Town	Lake Mary,
Entity Address, State or Province	FL
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	32746
City Area Code	407
Local Phone Number	333-9911
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, par value $.001
Trading Symbol	FARO
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
ICFR Auditor Attestation Flag	true
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 944,801,358
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		18,018,797
Documents Incorporated by Reference	Portions of the Registrant’s proxy statement for the 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders are incorporated by reference in Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Entity Central Index Key	0000917491
Amendment Flag	false