Convertible and Long-term Debt Obligations - Solar Asset-backed Notes - Additional Information (Detail) - SolarCity [Member] - Non-recourse debt [Member] - USD ($) $ in Millions		1 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Jan. 21, 2016	Feb. 29, 2016	Aug. 31, 2015	Jul. 31, 2014	Apr. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2016	Nov. 30, 2013
Solar Asset-backed Notes, Series 2013-1 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt principal issued							$ 54.4
Collateral value of solar assets						$ 93.0
Debt discount percentage						0.05%
Lease Pass-Through Financing Obligation [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Lease financing obligations						$ 56.4
Lease financing obligation termination						40.2
Solar Asset-backed Notes, Series 2014-1 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt principal issued					$ 70.2
Collateral value of solar assets						113.6
Debt discount percentage					0.01%
Solar Asset-backed Notes, Series 2014-2 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Collateral value of solar assets						265.6
Debt discount percentage				0.01%
Solar Asset-backed Notes, Series 2014-2 [Member] \| Class A [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt principal issued				$ 160.0
Solar Asset-backed Notes, Series 2014-2 [Member] \| Class B [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt principal issued				$ 41.5
Solar Asset-backed Notes, Series 2015-1 [Member] \| Class A [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt principal issued			$ 103.5
Debt discount percentage			0.05%
Solar Asset-backed Notes, Series 2015-1 [Member] \| Class B [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt principal issued			$ 20.0
Debt discount percentage			1.46%
Solar Asset-backed Notes, Series 2016-1 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt principal issued		$ 52.2
Collateral value of solar assets						$ 87.7
Debt discount percentage		6.71%
Solar Loan-backed Notes, Series 2016-A [Member] \| Class A [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt principal issued	$ 151.6
Debt discount percentage	3.22%
Solar Loan-backed Notes, Series 2016-A [Member] \| Class B [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt principal issued	$ 33.4
Debt discount percentage	15.90%