Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Significant Accounting Policies - Customers Greater Than Ten Percent of Net Revenue (Details)

v2.4.1.9
Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Significant Accounting Policies - Customers Greater Than Ten Percent of Net Revenue (Details)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Arris Corporation      
Concentration Risk      
Percentage Of Net Revenues By Major Customer 31.00%mxl_PercentageOfNetRevenuesByMajorCustomer
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mxl_ArrisCorporationMember
28.00%mxl_PercentageOfNetRevenuesByMajorCustomer
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mxl_ArrisCorporationMember
28.00%mxl_PercentageOfNetRevenuesByMajorCustomer
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mxl_ArrisCorporationMember
Pace Corporation      
Concentration Risk      
Percentage Of Net Revenues By Major Customer     10.00%mxl_PercentageOfNetRevenuesByMajorCustomer
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= mxl_PaceCorporationMember