Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Commitments and Contingencies - Litigation (Details)

v3.8.0.1
Commitments and Contingencies - Litigation (Details)
 12 Months Ended
May 16, 2014
USD ($)
claim
Jan. 08, 2014
patent
Dec. 31, 2016
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2017
USD ($)
Sep. 30, 2017
USD ($)
May 12, 2017
USD ($)
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]            
Operating Leases, Future Sublease Income, Remainder of Fiscal Year       $ 2,875,000    
Operating Leases, Future Sublease Income, Due in Two Years       3,604,000    
Operating Leases, Future Sublease Income, Due in Three Years       4,088,000    
Operating Leases, Future Sublease Income, Due in Four Years       4,152,000    
Operating Leases, Future Sublease Income, Due in Five Years       879,000    
Operating Leases, Future Sublease Income, Due Thereafter       352,000    
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due, Future Minimum Sublease Rentals       15,950,000    
2018       9,155,000    
2017       9,117,000    
2018       9,285,000    
2019       9,146,000    
2020       5,003,000    
Thereafter       $ 758,000    
CrestaTech Technology Corporation v. MaxLinear, Inc. [Member]            
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]            
Patents allegedly infringed upon 3 2        
Inter Partes Review by US Patent Office [Member]            
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]            
New claims filed 4          
Inter Partes Review by US Patent Office v. CrestaTech Patents [Member]            
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]            
Patents allegedly infringed upon | patent   2        
Inter Partes Review Petitions     2      
Exar Corporation [Member]            
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]            
Business Combination, Indemnification Assets, Amount as of Acquisition Date         $ 5,000,000 $ 5,000,000
Business Combination, Indemnification Assets, Range of Outcomes, Value, High         13,600,000  
Indemnification Agreement [Member] | Exar Corporation [Member]            
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]            
Business Combination, Indemnification Assets, Range of Outcomes, Value, High         136,000,000  
Representations and Warranties [Member] | Exar Corporation [Member]            
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]            
Business Combination, Indemnification Assets, Range of Outcomes, Value, High         34,000,000  
Intellectual Property [Member] | Exar Corporation [Member]            
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]            
Business Combination, Indemnification Assets, Range of Outcomes, Value, High         $ 34,000,000