Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Subsequent Event Subsequent Event - Additional Information (Detail)

v2.4.1.9
Subsequent Event Subsequent Event - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
 0 Months Ended
Feb. 03, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Feb. 09, 2015
claim
Subsequent Event [Line Items]        
Common stock, par value (usd per share)   $ 0.0001us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare $ 0.0001us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare  
Subsequent Event [Member]        
Subsequent Event [Line Items]        
Cash paid per share $ 1.20us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionSharePrice
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember 		     
Class A Common Stock        
Subsequent Event [Line Items]        
Common stock, par value (usd per share)   $ 0.0001us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassAMember 		$ 0.0001us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassAMember 		 
Class A Common Stock | Entropic Communications [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]        
Subsequent Event [Line Items]        
Share conversion rate 0.2200mxl_ConversionofStockShareConversionRate
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= mxl_EntropicCommunicationsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassAMember
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember 		     
Common stock, par value (usd per share) $ 0.001us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= mxl_EntropicCommunicationsMember
/ us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis
= us-gaap_CommonClassAMember
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember 		     
CALIFORNIA | Subsequent Event [Member]        
Subsequent Event [Line Items]        
Loss Contingency, Pending Claims, Number       2us-gaap_LossContingencyPendingClaimsNumber
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= stpr_CA
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember