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

Stock-Based Compensation and Employee Benefit Plans Fair Value of Employee Stock Purchase Rights (Details)

v2.4.1.9

Stock-Based Compensation and Employee Benefit Plans Fair Value of Employee Stock Purchase Rights (Details) (Two Thousand Ten Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Member], USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Dividend yield	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Expected life (years)	6 months	6 months	6 months
Minimum [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Weighted-average grant date fair value per share (usd per share)	2.03	1.85	1.28
Risk-free interest rate	0.05%	0.09%	0.14%
Volatility	47.75%	34.24%	46.60%
Maximum [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Weighted-average grant date fair value per share (usd per share)	2.47	2.09	1.42
Risk-free interest rate	0.07%	0.10%	0.15%
Volatility	46.82%	41.58%	55.74%

- Definition

The estimated dividend rate (a percentage of the share price) to be paid (expected dividends) to holders of the underlying shares over the option's term.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (f)(2)(iii)

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- Definition

Expected term of share-based compensation awards, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 14.D.2)

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-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)

-Number Topic 14

-Section D

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- Definition

The estimated measure of the percentage by which a share price is expected to fluctuate during a period. Volatility also may be defined as a probability-weighted measure of the dispersion of returns about the mean. The volatility of a share price is the standard deviation of the continuously compounded rates of return on the share over a specified period. That is the same as the standard deviation of the differences in the natural logarithms of the stock prices plus dividends, if any, over the period.

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- Definition

The risk-free interest rate assumption that is used in valuing an option on its own shares.

+ References

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-Topic 718

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- Definition

The weighted average grant-date fair value of options granted during the reporting period as calculated by applying the disclosed option pricing methodology.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (d)(1)

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