Income taxes.

No definition available.

Name:	tsla_IncomeTaxesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	tsla_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Research tax credit carry forward expiration dates .

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	tsla_ResearchTaxCreditCarryForwardExpirationDates
Namespace Prefix:	tsla_
Data Type:	xbrli:gYearItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Tax credit carry forward expiration year.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	tsla_TaxCreditCarryForwardExpirationYear
Namespace Prefix:	tsla_
Data Type:	xbrli:gYearItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Unrecognized tax benefits of deferred tax accounting that would not impact annual effective rate.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	tsla_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsOfDeferredTaxAccountingThatWouldNotImpactAnnualEffectiveRate
Namespace Prefix:	tsla_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount after allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible temporary differences and carryforwards.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (b),(c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32537-109319

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount before allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible general business tax credit carryforwards.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32559-109319

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32621-109319

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32632-109319

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwardsGeneralBusiness
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount before allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible research tax credit carryforwards.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32632-109319

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32559-109319

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32621-109319

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwardsResearch
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of deferred tax assets for which it is more likely than not that a tax benefit will not be realized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32537-109319

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of deferred tax liability attributable to taxable temporary differences from undistributed earnings of subsidiary and other recognized entity not within country of domicile. Includes, but is not limited to, other basis differences.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32621-109319

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesUndistributedForeignEarnings
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage of domestic federal statutory tax rate applicable to pretax income (loss).

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 6.I)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116825942&loc=d3e330036-122817

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 12
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32687-109319

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 13
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32698-109319

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Tax year being audited in the income tax examination, in CCYY format.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeTaxExaminationYearUnderExamination
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	us-types:gYearListItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of current income tax expense (benefit) and deferred income tax expense (benefit) pertaining to continuing operations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 22
-Subparagraph (h)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=115929826&loc=d3e8736-108599

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08(h))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109238882&loc=d3e38679-109324

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of operating loss carryforward, before tax effects, available to reduce future taxable income under enacted tax laws.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Expiration date of each operating loss carryforward included in operating loss carryforward, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwardsExpirationDate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of increase (decrease) in the valuation allowance for a specified deferred tax asset.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 20
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116821951&loc=d3e32123-109318

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceDeferredTaxAssetChangeInAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityNameAxis=us-gaap_InternalRevenueServiceIRSMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_RangeAxis=srt_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_RangeAxis=srt_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis=tsla_ForeignJurisdictionsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis=us-gaap_DomesticCountryMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis=us-gaap_StateAndLocalJurisdictionMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis=stpr_CA
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis=tsla_UnitedStatesAndForeignJurisdictionsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=tsla_SolarCityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Provision for income taxes	$ 110,000,000	$ 58,000,000	$ 32,000,000
Corporate tax rate	21.00%	21.00%	35.00%
Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance	$ 1,956,000,000	$ 1,806,000,000
Deferred tax assets, net	1,454,000,000	910,000,000
Research and development credits	486,000,000	377,000,000
Deferred tax liability	0
Unrecognized tax benefits, that would not affect effective tax rate	$ 247,000,000
IRS [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Income tax examination, years	2015
IRS [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Income tax examination, years	2016
Foreign jurisdictions [Member]
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Deferred tax assets, net	$ 151,000,000
Federal [Member]
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Operating loss carry-forwards	$ 7,510,000,000
Operating loss carry-forwards beginning to expire in the year	Dec. 31, 2024
Research and development credits	$ 320,000,000
Research and development tax credits, federal carry-forwards expiration date	2024
General business tax credit	$ 125,000,000
General business tax credits, beginning to expire in the year	2033
Federal [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Income tax examination, years	2004
Federal [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Income tax examination, years	2018
State [Member]
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Operating loss carry-forwards	$ 6,160,000,000
Operating loss carry-forwards beginning to expire in the year	Dec. 31, 2028
Research and development credits	$ 284,000,000
California \| Minimum [Member]
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Income tax examination, years	2004
California \| Maximum [Member]
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Income tax examination, years	2018
U.S. and foreign jurisdictions [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Income tax examination, years	2008
U.S. and foreign jurisdictions [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Income tax examination, years	2018
SolarCity [Member]
Income Taxes [Line Items]
Increase (Decrease) in valuation on deferred taxes	$ 150,000,000	$ (38,000,000)	$ 821,000,000