MaxLinear, Inc. Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Cover
- Document and Entity Information
Financial Statements
Notes to Financial Statements
Accounting Policies
- Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
Notes Tables
Notes Details

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

v2.4.0.6

Stock-Based Compensation and Employee Benefit Plans - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								3 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2013 Class A Common Stock [Member] vote	Dec. 31, 2012 Class A Common Stock [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Class B Common Stock [Member] vote	Dec. 31, 2012 Class B Common Stock [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Equity Incentive Plan [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Member]	Jan. 02, 2013 Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Restricted Stock Units [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Restricted Stock Units [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Restricted Stock Awards [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Restricted Stock Awards [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Stock Options [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Stock Options [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Weighted-average grant date fair value per share (usd per share)											$ 5.46	$ 5.51	$ 0.00	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Restricted stock awards granted (shares)													0	0
Stock options granted (shares)	0	0
Percentage of fair value market of common stock	100.00%
Vesting period for new restricted stock units	4 years
Term of option granted, minimum	7 years
Term of option granted, maximum	10 years
Shares authorized for issuance								1,300,000		400,000
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, shares authorized (shares)	550,000,000		550,000,000	500,000,000	500,000,000	500,000,000	500,000,000
Voting rights per share				1		10
Number of convertible common stock				1

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Conversion of class B common stock to class A common stock, shares.

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Number of voting rights per share.

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- Definition

The maximum period when the equity-based award expires as specified in the award agreement, which may be presented in a variety of ways (for example, year, month and year, day, month and year, quarter of a year).

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The minimum period when the equity-based award expires as specified in the award agreement, which may be presented in a variety of ways (for example, year, month and year, day, month and year, quarter of a year).

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Share based payment award options exercise price as percentage of common stock fair value.

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- Definition

The maximum number of common shares permitted to be issued by an entity's charter and bylaws.

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

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- Definition

Period which an employee's right to exercise an award is no longer contingent on satisfaction of either a service condition, market condition or a performance condition, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

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- Definition

The discount rate from market value on offering date that participants pay for shares.

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The discount rate from market value on purchase date that participants pay for shares.

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- Definition

The number of grants made during the period on other than stock (or unit) option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, performance target plan).

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- Definition

The weighted average fair value at grant date for nonvested equity-based awards issued during the period on other than stock (or unit) option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, performance target plan).

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- Definition

The highest percentage of annual salary that an employee is permitted to utilize with respect to the plan.

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- Definition

The maximum number of shares (or other type of equity) originally approved (usually by shareholders and board of directors), net of any subsequent amendments and adjustments, for awards under the equity-based compensation plan. As stock or unit options and equity instruments other than options are awarded to participants, the shares or units remain authorized and become reserved for issuance under outstanding awards (not necessarily vested).

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- Definition

Net number of share options (or share units) granted during the period.

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