Employee Benefit Plans (Details 8) - U.S. Pension Plans - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Dec. 31, 2018	[1]	Dec. 31, 2017		Dec. 31, 2016
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets		$ 0		$ 19,664	[1]	$ 18,510
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	[2]			19,664
Level 1
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets				19,662
Level 1 | Cash and Cash Equivalents
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	[2]			19,662
Level 2
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets				2
Level 2 | Cash and Cash Equivalents
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	[2]			2
Level 3
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets				0
Level 3 | Cash and Cash Equivalents
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Fair value of plan assets	[2]			$ 0

[1] In addition to the U.S. pension plan assets, ARRIS has established two rabbi trusts to further fund the pension obligations of the Executive Chairman and certain executive officers. The obligation for the Executive Chairman was distributed in the fourth quarter of 2018. The balance in the trusts as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 are $9.7 million and $25.4 million, respectively, and are included in Investments on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

[2] Cash and cash equivalents, which are used to pay benefits and administrative expenses, are held in money market and stable value fund.