v3.20.2

Document and Entity Information	Oct. 08, 2020
Cover [Abstract]
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Central Index Key	0001607716
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Type	8-K
Document Period End Date	Oct. 08, 2020
Entity Registrant Name	Vivint Solar, Inc.
Entity Incorporation State Country Code	DE
Entity File Number	001-36642
Entity Tax Identification Number	45-5605880
Entity Address, Address Line One	1800 West Ashton Blvd.
Entity Address, City or Town	Lehi
Entity Address, State or Province	UT
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	84043
City Area Code	(877)
Local Phone Number	404-4129
Written Communications	false
Soliciting Material	false
Pre Commencement Tender Offer	false
Pre Commencement Issuer Tender Offer	false
Security 12b Title	Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
Trading Symbol	VSLR
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false

Boolean flag that is true when the XBRL content amends previously-filed or accepted submission.

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No definition available.

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- Definition

Area code of city

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No definition available.

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- Definition

Cover page.

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No definition available.

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- Definition

End date of current fiscal year in the format --MM-DD.

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No definition available.

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Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

The end date of the period reflected on the cover page if a periodic report. For all other reports and registration statements containing historical data, it is the date up through which that historical data is presented. If there is no historical data in the report, use the filing date. The format of the date is CCYY-MM-DD.

+ References

No definition available.

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Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

The type of document being provided (such as 10-K, 10-Q, 485BPOS, etc). The document type is limited to the same value as the supporting SEC submission type, or the word 'Other'.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Address Line 1 such as Attn, Building Name, Street Name

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No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	xbrli:normalizedStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

Name of the City or Town

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No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	xbrli:normalizedStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Code for the postal or zip code

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No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	xbrli:normalizedStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

Name of the state or province.

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No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	dei:stateOrProvinceItemType
Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

A unique 10-digit SEC-issued value to identify entities that have filed disclosures with the SEC. It is commonly abbreviated as CIK.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation 12B
-Number 240
-Section 12
-Subsection b-2

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Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	dei:centralIndexKeyItemType
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- Definition

Indicate if registrant meets the emerging growth company criteria.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation 12B
-Number 240
-Section 12
-Subsection b-2

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Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

Commission file number. The field allows up to 17 characters. The prefix may contain 1-3 digits, the sequence number may contain 1-8 digits, the optional suffix may contain 1-4 characters, and the fields are separated with a hyphen.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Two-character EDGAR code representing the state or country of incorporation.

+ References

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	dei:edgarStateCountryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The exact name of the entity filing the report as specified in its charter, which is required by forms filed with the SEC.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation 12B
-Number 240
-Section 12
-Subsection b-2

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- Definition

The Tax Identification Number (TIN), also known as an Employer Identification Number (EIN), is a unique 9-digit value assigned by the IRS.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
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- Definition

Local phone number for entity.

+ References

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	xbrli:normalizedStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Boolean flag that is true when the Form 8-K filing is intended to satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant as pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Exchange Act
-Number 240
-Section 13e
-Subsection 4c

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Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

Boolean flag that is true when the Form 8-K filing is intended to satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant as pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Exchange Act
-Number 240
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- Definition

Title of a 12(b) registered security.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Number 240
-Section 12
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- Definition

Name of the Exchange on which a security is registered.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Exchange Act
-Number 240
-Section 12
-Subsection d1-1

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- Definition

Boolean flag that is true when the Form 8-K filing is intended to satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant as soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Exchange Act
-Section 14a
-Number 240
-Subsection 12

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Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	xbrli:booleanItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Trading symbol of an instrument as listed on an exchange.

+ References

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	dei_
Data Type:	dei:tradingSymbolItemType
Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

Boolean flag that is true when the Form 8-K filing is intended to satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant as written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Securities Act
-Number 230
-Section 425

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Vivint Solar, Inc. 8-K