Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 181,152	$ 175,652	$ 177,580	$ 161,406	$ 160,542	$ 169,185	$ 170,986	$ 150,658	$ 695,790	$ 651,371	$ 602,833
Gross profit	37,852	43,070	43,751	41,034	41,236	41,785	43,456	37,647	165,707	164,124	166,749
Operating income (loss)	(480)	4,212	7,303	(365)	6,266	8,121	7,969	3,041	10,670	25,397	35,919
Net income (loss)	(16,854)	1,728	4,684	119	3,236	7,807	6,598	2,743	(10,323)	20,384	29,173
Net income (loss) attributable to Universal Electronics Inc.	$ (16,854)	$ 1,728	$ 4,684	$ 119	$ 3,236	$ 7,807	$ 6,590	$ 2,721	$ (10,323)	$ 20,354	$ 29,174
Earnings (loss) per share attributable to Universal Electronics Inc.:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (1.19)	$ 0.12	$ 0.33	$ 0.01	$ 0.22	$ 0.54	$ 0.46	$ 0.19	$ (0.72)	$ 1.41	$ 1.91
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (1.19)	$ 0.12	$ 0.32	$ 0.01	$ 0.22	$ 0.53	$ 0.45	$ 0.19	$ (0.72)	$ 1.38	$ 1.88