Additional specified scope costs.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Annual tax revenues to be generated end of five year.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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- Definition

Commitments and contingencies.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Lease arrangement amount required to spend or incur.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Lessee operating lease capital expenditures.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
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- Definition

Operating lease option to renew amount per year.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	srt-types:perUnitItemType
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- Definition

Target projects deferred period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Amount of contractual obligation, including but not limited to, long-term debt, capital lease obligations, operating lease obligations, purchase obligations, and other commitments.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The aggregate costs related to goods produced and sold and services rendered by an entity during the reporting period. This excludes costs incurred during the reporting period related to financial services rendered and other revenue generating activities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 924
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SAB Topic 11.L)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6472922&loc=d3e499488-122856

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.2(a),(d))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120395209&loc=SL114868664-224227

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Term of lessee's operating lease, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 842
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121609121&loc=SL77918673-209980

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Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Term of lessor's operating lease, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 842
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121576215&loc=SL77919359-209981

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount awarded from other party in judgment or settlement of litigation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The minimum amount the entity agreed to spend under the long-term purchase commitment.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Number of plaintiffs that have filed claims pertaining to a loss contingency.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
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- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail) ¥ in Millions, $ in Millions		1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 16, 2020 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2020	Oct. 05, 2016 Plaintiff	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) $ / yr	Dec. 31, 2020 CNY (¥) $ / yr
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Letters Of Credit Outstanding Amount				$ 233
Lawsuit in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware by purported stockholders of Tesla challenging SolarCity Acquisition [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of lawsuits filed \| Plaintiff			7
Received payment from litigation	$ 43
Shanghai, China [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Operating lease arrangement, initial term				50 years	50 years
Capital expenditures \| ¥					¥ 14,080
Annual tax revenues to be generated end of 2023 \| ¥					¥ 2,230
Maximum [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Initial direct costs related to customer solar energy system lease acquisition costs				25 years	25 years
Operating lease arrangement, initial term				10 years	10 years
SUNY Foundation [Member] \| Build To Suit Lease Arrangement
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Acquisition of manufacturing equipment				$ 275
Additional specified scope costs				$ 125
Initial direct costs related to customer solar energy system lease acquisition costs				10 years	10 years
Operating lease, option to renew, amount per year \| $ / yr				2.00	2.00
Lease arrangement, amount required to spend or incur				$ 5,000
Contractual obligation				41
Target projects deferred period		1 year
SUNY Foundation [Member] \| Build To Suit Lease Arrangement \| Maximum [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Cost of revenues				$ 350