MaxLinear, Inc. Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Stock-Based Compensation and Employee Benefit Plans - Additional Information (Detail)

Stock-Based Compensation and Employee Benefit Plans - Additional Information (Detail) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) director vote $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) shares	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Aug. 12, 2016 shares	May 13, 2016 shares	Aug. 20, 2015 shares	May 14, 2015 shares
Common Stock, Number of Shares, Par Value and Other Disclosures [Abstract]
Common stock, shares authorized (shares)	550,000,000	550,000,000
Stock Issued or Granted During Period, Share-based Compensation [Abstract]
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Not yet Recognized, Stock Options \| $	$ 700
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested and Expected to Vest, Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	10 months 25 days
Stock based compensation expense \| $	$ 21,765	$ 19,268	$ 15,008
Shares issued upon settlement of bonus awards (shares)				200,000	200,000	300,000	200,000
Deferred Compensation Share-based Arrangements, Liability, Current \| $	3,800
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested and Expected to Vest, Exercisable, Aggregate Intrinsic Value \| $	$ 6,500	$ 6,600	$ 600
Class A Common Stock [Member]
Common Stock, Number of Shares, Par Value and Other Disclosures [Abstract]
Common stock, shares authorized (shares)	500,000,000	500,000,000
Voting rights per share \| vote	1
Class B Common Stock [Member]
Common Stock, Number of Shares, Par Value and Other Disclosures [Abstract]
Common stock, shares authorized (shares)	500,000,000	500,000,000
Voting rights per share \| vote	10
Number of directors appointed by shareholders \| director	2
Equity Incentive Plan [Member]
Stock Issued or Granted During Period, Share-based Compensation [Abstract]
Vesting period for new restricted stock units	4 years
Term of option granted, minimum	7 years
Term of option granted, maximum	10 years
Common Stock Capital Shares Reserved For Future Issuance Period Increase Decrease	2,600,000
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Percentage of Outstanding Stock Maximum	4.00%
Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Member]
Stock Issued or Granted During Period, Share-based Compensation [Abstract]
Contribution of earnings by employees	15.00%
Percentage of purchase of common stock	85.00%
Percentage of common stock on the date of purchase	85.00%
Common Stock Capital Shares Reserved For Future Issuance Period Increase Decrease	1,000,000
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Percentage of Outstanding Stock Maximum	1.25%
MaximumDurationOfEmployeeStockPurchasePlan	27 months
RSU and RSA [Member]
Stock Issued or Granted During Period, Share-based Compensation [Abstract]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested and Expected to Vest, Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	2 years 7 months 30 days
Portion of equity awards that have not been vested or earned \| $	$ 44,100
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value \| $ / shares	$ 18.83
RSUs granted in period (shares)	2,932,000
Stock Option [Member]
Stock Issued or Granted During Period, Share-based Compensation [Abstract]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested and Expected to Vest, Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	2 years 8 months 24 days
Option Granted in period \| $ / shares	$ 0
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Gross	0