Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Retained Earnings (Losses)	Non-controlling Interest
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015		32,601,000
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 708,710	$ 33	$ 513,047	$ 3	$ 195,627	$ 0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Change in unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities, net of tax	21			21
Change in unrealized gains and losses on derivatives, net of tax	1,914			1,914
Net income (loss) attributable to NETGEAR, Inc.	75,851				75,851
Stock-based compensation expense	$ 19,180		19,180
Repurchases of common stock (in shares)	(900,000)	(894,000)
Repurchases of common stock	$ (38,252)	$ (1)			(38,251)
Restricted stock unit withholdings (in shares)	(105,000)	(105,000)
Restricted stock unit withholdings	$ (4,686)				(4,686)
Issuance of common stock under stock-based compensation plans (in shares)		1,356,000
Issuance of common stock under stock-based compensation plans	31,627	$ 1	31,626
Income tax impact associated with stock option exercises	2,454		2,454
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest in discontinued operations	0
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016		32,958,000
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2016	796,819	$ 33	566,307	1,938	228,541	0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Cumulative effect of new accounting principle in the period of adoption	92		327		(235)
Change in unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities, net of tax	(73)			(73)
Change in unrealized gains and losses on derivatives, net of tax	(2,716)			(2,716)
Net income (loss) attributable to NETGEAR, Inc.	19,436				19,436
Stock-based compensation expense	$ 22,147		22,147
Repurchases of common stock (in shares)	(2,400,000)	(2,378,000)
Repurchases of common stock	$ (113,161)	$ (2)			(113,159)
Restricted stock unit withholdings (in shares)	(135,000)	(135,000)
Restricted stock unit withholdings	$ (6,415)				(6,415)
Issuance of common stock under stock-based compensation plans (in shares)		875,000
Issuance of common stock under stock-based compensation plans	14,356		14,356
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest in discontinued operations	0
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017		31,320,000
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2017	730,485	$ 31	603,137	(851)	128,168	0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Cumulative effect of new accounting principle in the period of adoption	8,593				8,593
Change in unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities, net of tax	78			78
Net income (loss) attributable to NETGEAR, Inc.	(9,162)				(9,162)
Stock-based compensation expense	$ 31,966		31,966
Repurchases of common stock (in shares)	(500,000)	(473,000)
Repurchases of common stock	$ (30,000)				(30,000)
Restricted stock unit withholdings (in shares)	(138,000)	(138,000)
Restricted stock unit withholdings	$ (8,065)				(8,065)
Issuance of common stock under stock-based compensation plans (in shares)		853,000
Issuance of common stock under stock-based compensation plans	12,395	$ 1	12,394
Change in unrealized gains and losses on derivatives, net of tax	758			758
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest in discontinued operations	(9,167)					(9,167)
Stock-based compensation expense for Arlo's shares	942					942
Sale of Arlo's common stock	170,246		146,088			24,158
Distribution of Arlo	(271,517)				(255,584)	(15,933)
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018		31,562,000
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 627,552	$ 32	$ 793,585	$ (15)	$ (166,050)	$ 0