CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 175,652	$ 169,185	$ 514,638	$ 490,829
Cost of sales	132,582	127,400	386,783	367,941
Gross profit	43,070	41,785	127,855	122,888
Research and development expenses	5,415	4,955	15,859	15,292
Factory transition restructuring charges	446	81	6,145	1,598
Selling, general and administrative expenses	32,997	28,628	94,701	86,867
Operating income	4,212	8,121	11,150	19,131
Interest income (expense), net	(721)	(228)	(1,676)	(753)
Other income (expense), net	61	335	2	1,726
Income before provision for income taxes	3,552	8,228	9,476	20,104
Provision for income taxes	1,824	421	2,945	2,956
Net income	1,728	7,807	6,531	17,148
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	30
Net income attributable to Universal Electronics Inc.	$ 1,728	$ 7,807	$ 6,531	$ 17,118
Earnings per share attributable to Universal Electronics Inc.:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.12	$ 0.54	$ 0.45	$ 1.19
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.12	$ 0.53	$ 0.44	$ 1.16
Shares used in computing earnings per share:
Basic (in shares)	14,381	14,510	14,412	14,441
Diluted (in shares)	14,666	14,848	14,689	14,740