Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

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

v2.4.1.9
Stock-Based Compensation and Employee Benefit Plans - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
May 09, 2014
May 03, 2013
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Intrinsic value of restricted stock units, vested $ 21,900,000us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsAggregateIntrinsicValueVested $ 14,900,000us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsAggregateIntrinsicValueVested $ 3,200,000us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsAggregateIntrinsicValueVested    
Intrinsic value of options exercised 600,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue 300,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue 2,100,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue    
Restricted stock units issued in the period 1,786,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod   1,000,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod    
Shares issed upon settlement of executive bonus plan       600,000mxl_SharesIssueduponSettlementofExecutiveBonusPlan 800,000mxl_SharesIssueduponSettlementofExecutiveBonusPlan
Common stock, shares authorized (shares) 550,000,000us-gaap_CommonStockSharesAuthorized 550,000,000us-gaap_CommonStockSharesAuthorized      
Stock repurchased and retired during the period, shares   0us-gaap_StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodShares      
Share based compensation expense exchange offer     7,300,000mxl_ShareBasedCompensationExpenseExchangeOffer    
Incremental value attributable to modification of options     1,800,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardPlanModificationIncrementalCompensationCost    
Stock repurchased and retired during the period, value     (12,076,000)us-gaap_StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodValue    
Share-based compensation expense related to non-employee 100,000us-gaap_IssuanceOfStockAndWarrantsForServicesOrClaims 200,000us-gaap_IssuanceOfStockAndWarrantsForServicesOrClaims 800,000us-gaap_IssuanceOfStockAndWarrantsForServicesOrClaims    
Intrinsic value of restricted stock units, outstanding 26,000,000mxl_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOtherThanOptionsOutstandingIntrinsicValue        
Accrual of bonus awards recorded for employees 3,100,000us-gaap_AccruedBonusesCurrent        
Class A Common Stock          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Common stock, shares authorized (shares) 500,000,000us-gaap_CommonStockSharesAuthorized
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassAMember
500,000,000us-gaap_CommonStockSharesAuthorized
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassAMember
     
Voting rights per share 1mxl_NumberOfVotingRightsPerShare
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassAMember
       
Stock repurchased and retired during the period, shares     (1,152,000)us-gaap_StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodShares
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassAMember
   
Eligible options to purchase shares     1,300,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriod
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassAMember
   
Class B Common Stock          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Common stock, shares authorized (shares) 500,000,000us-gaap_CommonStockSharesAuthorized
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassBMember
500,000,000us-gaap_CommonStockSharesAuthorized
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassBMember
     
Voting rights per share 10mxl_NumberOfVotingRightsPerShare
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassBMember
       
Right to appoint directors number of directors 2mxl_RightToAppointDirectorsNumberOfDirectors
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassBMember
       
Stock repurchased and retired during the period, shares     (1,000,000)us-gaap_StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodShares
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassBMember
   
Eligible options to purchase shares     600,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriod
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassBMember
   
2010 Equity Incentive Plan [Member]          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Vesting period for new restricted stock units 4 years 0 months 0 days        
Term of option granted, minimum 7 years 0 months 0 days        
Term of option granted, maximum 10 years 0 months 0 days        
2010 Equity Incentive Plan [Member] | Class A Common Stock          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Increase in common stock reserved for issuance 2,600,000mxl_CommonStockCapitalSharesReservedForFutureIssuancePeriodIncreaseDecrease
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= mxl_TwoThousandTenEquityIncentivePlanMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassAMember
       
Percentage of outstanding shares of common stock 4.00%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardPercentageOfOutstandingStockMaximum
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= mxl_TwoThousandTenEquityIncentivePlanMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassAMember
       
2010 Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Member]          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Contribution of earnings by employees 15.00%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardMaximumEmployeeSubscriptionRate
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= mxl_TwoThousandTenEmployeeStockPurchasePlanMember
       
Percentage of purchase of common stock 85.00%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardDiscountFromMarketPriceOfferingDate
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= mxl_TwoThousandTenEmployeeStockPurchasePlanMember
       
Increase in common stock reserved for issuance 1,000,000mxl_CommonStockCapitalSharesReservedForFutureIssuancePeriodIncreaseDecrease
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= mxl_TwoThousandTenEmployeeStockPurchasePlanMember
       
Percentage of outstanding shares of common stock 1.25%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardPercentageOfOutstandingStockMaximum
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= mxl_TwoThousandTenEmployeeStockPurchasePlanMember
       
Maximum duration of employee stock purchase plan 27 months        
Percentage of common stock at the date of purchase 85.00%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardDiscountFromMarketPricePurchaseDate
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= mxl_TwoThousandTenEmployeeStockPurchasePlanMember
       
Unvested Stock Options [Member]          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Total unrecognized compensation cost 3,100,000us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= mxl_UnvestedStockOptionsMember
       
Weighted average period over equity awards expected to vest 2 years 1 month 21 days        
RSU and RSA          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Total unrecognized compensation cost $ 18,100,000us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= mxl_RestrictedStockUnitandRestrictedStockAwardMember
       
Weighted average period over equity awards expected to vest 2 years 2 months 16 days