Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Basis of Presentation and Consolidation	Basis of Presentation and Consolidation The condensed consolidated financial statements of NeoPhotonics Corporation (“NeoPhotonics” or the “Company”) as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, have been prepared in accordance with the instructions on Form 10-Q pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). In accordance with those rules and regulations, the Company has omitted certain information and notes normally provided in the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements. In the opinion of management, the condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring items, except as otherwise noted, necessary for the fair presentation of the Company’s financial position and results of operations for the interim periods. The year-end condensed consolidated balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”). These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013. The results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014 are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for the entire fiscal year. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. Certain Significant Risks and Uncertainties The Company operates in a dynamic industry and, accordingly, can be affected by a variety of factors. For example, any of the following areas could have a negative effect on the Company in terms of its future financial position, results of operations or cash flows: the general state of the U.S. and world economies, the highly cyclical nature of the industries the Company serves; the loss of any of a small number of its larger customers; ability to obtain additional financing; inability to meet certain debt covenants; failure to successfully integrate completed acquisitions; fundamental changes in the technology underlying the Company’s products; the hiring, training and retention of key employees; successful and timely completion of product design efforts; and new product design introductions by competitors.
Use of Estimates	Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates made by management include: the useful lives of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets as well as future cash flows to be generated by those assets; fair values of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations; allowances for doubtful accounts; valuation allowances for deferred tax assets; write off of excess and obsolete inventories and the valuations, warranty reserves and recognition of stock-based compensation, among others. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	Recent Accounting Pronouncements In June 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2014-11, Repurchase-to-Maturity Transactions, Repurchase Financings, and Disclosures (“ASU 2014-11”). The standard (1) requires companies to account for repurchase-to-maturity transactions as secured borrowings, (2) requires separate accounting for a transfer of a financial asset executed contemporaneously with a repurchase agreement with the same counterparty, resulting in secured borrowing accounting for repurchase financing transactions, and (3) expands disclosure requirements related to certain transfers of financial assets that are accounted for as sales and certain transfers (specifically, repurchase agreements, securities lending transactions, and repurchase-to-maturity transactions) accounted for as secured borrowings. ASU 2014-11 is effective for the interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2014. Early adoption is not permitted for public entities. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of adoption on its consolidated financial statements. In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASU 2014-09”). The standard provides companies with a single model for use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes current revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific revenue guidance. The core principle of the model is to recognize revenue when control of the goods or services transfers to the customer, as opposed to recognizing revenue when the risks and rewards transfer to the customer under the existing revenue guidance. ASU 2014-09 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is not permitted. The guidance permits companies to either apply the requirements retrospectively to all prior periods presented, or apply the requirements in the year of adoption, through a cumulative adjustment. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of adoption on its consolidated financial statements. In April 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-08, Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205) and Property, Plant, and Equipment (Topic 360): Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity ("ASU 2014-08") which raises the threshold for a disposal to qualify as a discontinued operation and requires new disclosures of both discontinued operations and certain other disposals that do not meet the definition of a discontinued operation. ASU 2014-08 is effective for annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2014. Early adoption is permitted but only for disposals that have not been reported in financial statements previously issued. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of adoption on its consolidated financial statements. In July 2013, the FASB issued amendments to the FASB Accounting Standard Codification on Income Taxes, to improve the presentation of an unrecognized tax benefit when a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward exists. This guidance is expected to reduce diversity in practice and is expected to better reflect the manner in which an entity would settle at the reporting date any additional income taxes that would result from the disallowance of a tax position when net operating loss carryforwards, similar tax losses, or tax credit carryforwards exists. This guidance is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2013. The adoption of this guidance did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.