[Line Items] for Contingencies [Table]

No definition available.

Name:	ueic_ContingenciesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	ueic_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Litigation Settlement, Return of Attorney's Fees and Costs

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ueic_LitigationSettlementReturnofAttorneysFeesandCosts
Namespace Prefix:	ueic_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Loss Contingency, Number of Customers Named in Lawsuit

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ueic_LossContingencyNumberofCustomersNamedinLawsuit
Namespace Prefix:	ueic_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Loss Contingency, Number of Subsidiaries Named in Lawsuit

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ueic_LossContingencyNumberofSubsidiariesNamedinLawsuit
Namespace Prefix:	ueic_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Loss Contingency, Patents Allegedly Infringed, Number of Products

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ueic_LossContingencyPatentsAllegedlyInfringedNumberofProducts
Namespace Prefix:	ueic_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of litigation expense, including but not limited to legal, forensic, accounting, and investigative fees.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationSettlementExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of loss contingency liability.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14326-108349

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualAtCarryingValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The total number of new claims filed pertaining to a loss contingency during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14435-108349

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyNewClaimsFiledNumber
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of another entity's patents that the entity has allegedly infringed.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyPatentsAllegedlyInfringedNumber
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of cash paid for the settlement of litigation or for other legal issues during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 25
-Subparagraph (g)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3536-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PaymentsForLegalSettlements
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalent items which are restricted as to withdrawal or usage. Restrictions may include legally restricted deposits held as compensating balances against borrowing arrangements, contracts entered into with others, or entity statements of intention with regard to particular deposits; however, time deposits and short-term certificates of deposit are not generally included in legally restricted deposits. Excludes compensating balance arrangements that are not agreements which legally restrict the use of cash amounts shown on the balance sheet. This element is for unclassified presentations; for classified presentations there is a separate and distinct element.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalents
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=ueic_PatentLawsuitAgainstUniversalRemoteControlMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationStatusAxis=us-gaap_SettledLitigationMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis=us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=ueic_PatentLawsuitAgainstUEBVandTelenetMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationStatusAxis=us-gaap_PendingLitigationMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=ueic_DesignPatentsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=ueic_UtilityPatentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis=us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpensesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=us-gaap_SuretyBondMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Commitments and Contingencies - Gain and Loss Contingencies (Details) $ in Millions				1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Feb. 10, 2017 USD ($)	Jan. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 10, 2015 product subsidiary patent customer	Sep. 30, 2015 patent	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) claim	Sep. 04, 2015 USD ($)
Patent Lawsuit Against Universal Remote Control \| Settled Litigation
Contingencies [Line Items]
Liability accrued					$ 6.6
Patent Lawsuit Against Universal Remote Control \| Settled Litigation \| Subsequent event
Contingencies [Line Items]
Payment for settlement		$ 6.6
Patent Lawsuit Against UEBV and Telenet \| Pending Litigation
Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of subsidiaries named in lawsuit \| subsidiary			1
Number of customers named in lawsuit \| customer			1
Patent Lawsuit Against UEBV and Telenet \| Design Patents \| Pending Litigation
Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of products named in lawsuit \| product			1
Number of patents allegedly infringed upon \| patent			2
Patent Lawsuit Against UEBV and Telenet \| Utility Patent \| Pending Litigation
Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of patents allegedly infringed upon \| patent			1	1
Selling, general and administrative \| Patent Lawsuit Against Universal Remote Control \| Settled Litigation
Contingencies [Line Items]
Lawsuits filed \| claim					2
Estimated litigation costs					$ 2.0
Selling, general and administrative \| Patent Lawsuit Against Universal Remote Control \| Settled Litigation \| Subsequent event
Contingencies [Line Items]
Surety bond returned	$ 4.6
Surety Bond
Contingencies [Line Items]
Restricted cash						$ 4.6