CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) - USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 29,661,000	$ 24,875,000
Short-term investments	9,563,000	11,437,000
Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $1,026 and $985 as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015	18,380,000	18,468,000
Inventories	38,731,000	38,012,000
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	5,265,000	4,096,000
Total current assets	101,600,000	96,888,000
Long-term investments	8,124,000	7,691,000
Property, plant and equipment, net	29,385,000	31,422,000
Related party notes receivable - long-term	1,735,000	1,781,000
Other assets	12,084,000	14,114,000
Total assets	152,928,000	151,896,000
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	7,277,000	6,460,000
Accrued liabilities	5,011,000	6,381,000
Total current liabilities	12,288,000	12,841,000
Long-term portion of royalty payments	719,000	1,150,000
Other long-term liabilities	307,000	344,000
Total liabilities	13,314,000	14,335,000
Commitments and contingencies (Note 12)
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock Series A, $0.001 par value; 2,000 shares authorized; 883 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 (Liquidation preference of $6.6 million and $6.5 million as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015.)	3,532,000	3,532,000
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 70,000 shares authorized; 32,559 and 32,548 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015.	32,000	32,000
Additional paid-in-capital	195,863,000	194,646,000
Accumulated deficit	(67,199,000)	(70,621,000)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	2,529,000	4,382,000
Total AXT, Inc. stockholders' equity	134,757,000	131,971,000
Noncontrolling interests	4,857,000	5,590,000
Total stockholders' equity	139,614,000	137,561,000
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 152,928,000	$ 151,896,000

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of liabilities incurred (and for which invoices have typically been received) and payable to vendors for goods and services received that are used in an entity's business. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
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- Definition

Amount due from customers or clients, within one year of the balance sheet date (or the normal operating cycle, whichever is longer), for goods or services (including trade receivables) that have been delivered or sold in the normal course of business, reduced to the estimated net realizable fair value by an allowance established by the entity of the amount it deems uncertain of collection.