A variable capacity rotary compressor including a hermetic casing, and a housing installed in the hermetic casing to define therein first and second compression chambers having different capacities. A compressor is placed in the first and second compression chambers and operated to execute a compression operation in either the first or second compression chamber according to a rotating direction of a rotating shaft which drives the compressing unit. A pressure controller applies the outlet pressure of the compressor to the first or second compression chamber where an idle operation is executed, and has a path control chamber provided at a portion of the housing outside the first and second compression chambers. First and second inlet channels connect both ends of the path control chamber to inlet ports of the first and second compression chambers, respectively. A communicating channel connects an outlet side of the compressor to the path control chamber. A valve unit, in the path control chamber, controls an internal path of the path control chamber.