Balance Sheet Details - Property and Equipment (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
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3 Months Ended |
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Mar. 31, 2015
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Dec. 31, 2014
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Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |
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Property and equipment, Gross |
$ 28,005us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross
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$ 27,734us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross
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Less accumulated depreciation and amortization |
(16,741)us-gaap_AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment
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(15,293)us-gaap_AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment
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Property and equipment, net |
11,264us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet
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12,441us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet
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Furniture and fixtures [Member] |
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Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |
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Useful life |
5 years
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Property and equipment, Gross |
757us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross / us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis = us-gaap_FurnitureAndFixturesMember
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735us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross / us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis = us-gaap_FurnitureAndFixturesMember
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Machinery and equipment [Member] |
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Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |
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Property and equipment, Gross |
12,864us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross / us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis = us-gaap_MachineryAndEquipmentMember
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12,695us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross / us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis = us-gaap_MachineryAndEquipmentMember
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Machinery and equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member] |
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Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |
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Useful life |
3 years
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Machinery and equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member] |
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Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |
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Useful life |
5 years
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Masks and production equipment [Member] |
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Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |
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Useful life |
2 years
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Property and equipment, Gross |
8,672us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross / us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis = mxl_MasksAndProductionEquipmentMember
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8,672us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross / us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis = mxl_MasksAndProductionEquipmentMember
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Software [Member] |
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Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |
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Useful life |
3 years
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Property and equipment, Gross |
1,193us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross / us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis = us-gaap_ComputerSoftwareIntangibleAssetMember
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905us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross / us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis = us-gaap_ComputerSoftwareIntangibleAssetMember
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Leasehold improvements [Member] |
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Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |
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Property and equipment, Gross |
4,451us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross / us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis = us-gaap_LeaseholdImprovementsMember
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4,451us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross / us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis = us-gaap_LeaseholdImprovementsMember
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Leasehold improvements [Member] | Minimum [Member] |
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Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |
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Useful life |
4 years
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Leasehold improvements [Member] | Maximum [Member] |
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Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |
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Useful life |
5 years
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Construction in progress [Member] |
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Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |
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Property and equipment, Gross |
$ 68us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross / us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis = us-gaap_ConstructionInProgressMember
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$ 276us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross / us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis = us-gaap_ConstructionInProgressMember
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