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

Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Cover
- Document and Entity Information
Financial Statements
Notes to Financial Statements
Accounting Policies
- Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
Notes Tables
Notes Details

Financial Instruments - Fair Value, Liabilites Measured on Recurring Basis (Detail)

v2.4.1.9

Financial Instruments - Fair Value, Liabilites Measured on Recurring Basis (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Fair Value Financial Liabilities, Level 3 Activity [Roll Forward]
Net gain(loss) attributable to contingent consideration	$ 183	$ 0
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] \| Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member]
Fair Value Financial Liabilities, Level 3 Activity [Roll Forward]
Ending Balance	82	265
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] \| Contingent Consideration [Member] \| Fair Value Measurements Recurring [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Liability, Issuances	0	265
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliations, Recurring Basis, Liability Value	82	265	0
Fair Value Financial Liabilities, Level 3 Activity [Roll Forward]
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Liability, Gain (Loss) Included in Earnings	(183)	0
Ending Balance	$ 82	$ 265

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Amount of investments in debt securities classified as available-for-sale, expected to be converted to cash, sold or exchanged within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

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Amount of gain (loss) recognized on the income statement for financial instrument classified as a liability measured using unobservable inputs that reflect the entity's own assumption about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing.

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Amount of issuances of financial instrument classified as a liability measured using unobservable inputs that reflect the entity's own assumption about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing.

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Fair value of financial instrument classified as a liability measured using unobservable inputs that reflect the entity's own assumption about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing.

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