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

Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Business Combinations (Details Textuals)

Business Combinations (Details Textuals) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands					3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jul. 01, 2016	Apr. 28, 2016	Apr. 30, 2015	Oct. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Pro Forma Impairment of Intangible Assets								$ 1,300
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Earnings Per Share, Diluted					$ 0.17	$ (0.08)	$ 0.63	$ (1.39)
Physpeed Acquisition Related [Abstract]
Business Acquisition, Proforma, Cost of Goods Sold, Amortization								$ 5,600
Business Acquisition Proforma Amortization of Intangible Assets								2,400
Wireless Infrastructure Access Line Business of of Microsemi Storage Solutions, Inc. [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Acquisition, Effective Date of Acquisition		Apr. 28, 2016
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred		$ 21,000
Wireless Infrastructure Access and Backhaul Businesses of Microsemi and Broadcom [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Revenue					$ 96,324	$ 104,326	$ 311,709	227,428
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Net Income (Loss)					$ 11,806	(4,793)	$ 42,423	(70,311)
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information, Nonrecurring Adjustments [Table Text Block]					3642		4183
Pro Forma Impairment of Intangible Assets					$ 1,300	(1,300)	$ 1,300	(1,300)
Proforma, Earnings of Acquiree					6,198		6,957
Restructuring Costs					600		2,000
Business Combination, Pro Forma Information, Revenue of Acquiree since Acquisition Date, Actual					0	9,135	11,013	26,017
Physpeed Acquisition Related [Abstract]
Business Combination, Pro Forma Information, Earnings or Loss of Acquiree since Acquisition Date, Actual					4,556		5,004
Business Acquisition, Proforma, Cost of Goods Sold, Amortization					0	0	0	(5,641)
Business Acquisition Proforma Amortization of Intangible Assets					(250)	$ (2,552)	$ 3,993	10,125
Wireless Infrastructure Backhaul Business of Broadcom Corporation [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Acquisition, Effective Date of Acquisition	Jul. 01, 2016
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred	$ 80,000
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross	$ 80,000
Entropic Communications [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Acquisition, Effective Date of Acquisition			Apr. 30, 2015
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred			$ 289,400
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred, Equity Interests Issued and Issuable			173,800
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred, Liabilities Incurred			4,500
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross			$ 111,100
Physpeed [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Acquisition, Effective Date of Acquisition							Oct. 31, 2014
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross				$ 9,000
Physpeed Acquisition Related [Abstract]
Business Acquisition, Percentage of Voting Interests Acquired				100.00%
Escrow Deposit				$ 1,100
Continued Employment [Member] \| Physpeed [Member]
Physpeed Acquisition Related [Abstract]
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration, Liability				1,700
Business Combination, Additional Consideration, Quarterly Installments				200
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions, Expenses and Losses Recognized				100			$ 50		$ 70
Earn-out Consideration [Member] \| Physpeed [Member]
Physpeed Acquisition Related [Abstract]
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration, Liability				300	364		364				$ 142
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration Arrangements, Range of Outcomes, Value, High				$ 750
Payment of Contingent Consideration							240	$ 0
Scenario, Forecast [Member] \| Earn-out Consideration [Member] \| Physpeed [Member]
Physpeed Acquisition Related [Abstract]
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration Arrangements, Base Amount Multiplied by Revenue Percent										$ 375
Contingent Consideration [Member] \| Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]
Physpeed Acquisition Related [Abstract]
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration, Liability, Noncurrent					364		364
Physpeed, 2015 Restricted Stock Unit Plan [Member] \| Physpeed [Member]
Physpeed Acquisition Related [Abstract]
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized, Period for Recognition				14 months
Physpeed, 2016 Restricted Stock Unit Plan [Member] \| Physpeed [Member]
Physpeed Acquisition Related [Abstract]
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized, Period for Recognition				26 months
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member] \| Physpeed [Member]
Physpeed Acquisition Related [Abstract]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired And Liabilities Assumed, Current Liabilities, Accrued Compensation					$ 1,400		$ 1,400		$ 1,900
Fair Value Adjustment to Inventory [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information, Nonrecurring Adjustments [Table Text Block]							9341