Quarterly Financial Data (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 29, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jul. 01, 2018	Apr. 01, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Quarterly Financial Data [Abstract]
Net revenue	$ 252,971	$ 265,858	$ 230,852	$ 249,082	$ 288,928	$ 269,411	$ 255,276	$ 245,201	$ 998,763	$ 1,058,816	$ 1,039,169
Gross profit	69,583	77,192	65,445	82,008	90,654	94,445	80,280	76,319	294,228	341,698	307,716
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	1,045	(228)	756	2,207	19,210	5,483	1,271	(86)	3,780	25,878	57,357
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	(420)	12,529	839	12,843	(535)	16,310	533	1,018	25,791	17,326	(11,133)
Net income (loss)	(420)	12,529	839	12,843	(27,839)	9,150	(5,230)	5,590	25,791	(18,329)	19,436
Net income (loss) attributable to NETGEAR, Inc.	$ (420)	$ 12,529	$ 839	$ 12,843	$ (19,471)	$ 9,949	$ (5,230)	$ 5,590	$ 25,791	$ (9,162)	$ 19,436
Basic net income (loss) per share
Income (loss) from continuing operations	$ (0.01)	$ 0.41	$ 0.03	$ 0.41	$ (0.02)	$ 0.51	$ 0.02	$ 0.03	$ 0.83	$ 0.55	$ (0.35)
Net income (loss) attributable to NETGEAR, Inc.	(0.01)	0.41	0.03	0.41	(0.62)	0.31	(0.17)	0.18	0.83	(0.29)	0.61
Diluted net income (loss) per share
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(0.01)	0.39	0.03	0.39	(0.02)	0.49	0.02	0.03	0.81	0.52	(0.35)
Net income (loss) attributable to NETGEAR, Inc.	$ (0.01)	$ 0.39	$ 0.03	$ 0.39	$ (0.62)	$ 0.30	$ (0.16)	$ 0.17	$ 0.81	$ (0.28)	$ 0.61