Convertible and Long-term Debt Obligations - Cash Equity Debt - Additional Information (Detail) - Non-recourse debt [Member] - USD ($) $ in Millions |
Dec. 31, 2016 |
Dec. 16, 2016 |
Sep. 08, 2016 |
May 02, 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash Equity Debt I [Member] | ||||
| Debt Instrument [Line Items] | ||||
| Interest Rate | 5.70% | |||
| Cash Equity Debt II [Member] | ||||
| Debt Instrument [Line Items] | ||||
| Interest Rate | 5.30% | |||
| Cash Equity Debt III [Member] | ||||
| Debt Instrument [Line Items] | ||||
| Interest Rate | 5.80% | |||
| SolarCity [Member] | Cash Equity Debt I [Member] | ||||
| Debt Instrument [Line Items] | ||||
| Debt principal issued | $ 121.7 | |||
| Interest Rate | 5.65% | |||
| SolarCity [Member] | Cash Equity Debt II [Member] | ||||
| Debt Instrument [Line Items] | ||||
| Debt principal issued | $ 210.0 | |||
| Interest Rate | 5.25% | |||
| SolarCity [Member] | Cash Equity Debt III [Member] | ||||
| Debt Instrument [Line Items] | ||||
| Debt principal issued | $ 170.0 | |||
| Interest Rate | 5.81% |