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

Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Business Combination Additional Information (Details)

Business Combination Additional Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill	$ 1,201,000us-gaap_Goodwill			$ 1,201,000us-gaap_Goodwill
Stock based compensation	3,719,000	3,393,000
Physpeed [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Percentage of voting interests acquired			100.00%
Payments to acquire businesses			9,250,000
Escrow deposit			1,100,000
Goodwill			1,201,000
Fair value of total consideration transferred			9,250,000
Acquisition related costs				300,000
Identifiable intangible assets			10,000,000
Average useful life			7 years
Continued Employment [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Quarterly installments			200,000
Separately recognized transactions, expenses and losses recognized			100,000
Working Capital Adjustment				40,000
Continued Employment [Member] \| Scenario, Forecast [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Separately recognized transactions, expenses and losses recognized					50,000	70,000
Continued Employment [Member] \| Physpeed [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Contingent consideration liability			1,700,000
Term of liability			2 years
Earn-out Consideration [Member] \| Physpeed [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Contingent consideration liability			300,000
Contingent consideration, high range of outcomes			750,000
Earn-out Consideration [Member] \| Physpeed [Member] \| Scenario, Forecast [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Base amount multiplied by revenue percent					375,000	375,000
Retention and Performance-based Agreements [Member] \| Physpeed [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Contingent consideration, high range of outcomes			3,250,000
Developed Technology Rights [Member] \| Physpeed [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Identifiable intangible assets			2,700,000
In Process Research and Development [Member] \| Physpeed [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Identifiable intangible assets			7,300,000
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Acquisition, Equity Interest Issued or Issuable, Value Assigned				3,250,000
Stock based compensation				200,000
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member] \| Scenario, Forecast [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Acquisition, Equity Interest Issued or Issuable, Value Assigned					$ 1,625,000	$ 1,625,000
Maximum revenue to average company share price					50.00%	50.00%