Summary Quarterly Consolidated Financial Information (unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended										12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	[1],[2]	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	[3],[4],[5],[6]	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018		Dec. 31, 2017		Dec. 31, 2016
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 1,787,142		$ 1,651,248	$ 1,726,540	$ 1,577,710	$ 1,738,593		$ 1,728,524	$ 1,664,170	$ 1,483,105	$ 6,742,640		$ 6,614,392		$ 6,829,118
Gross margin	479,232		465,189	498,755	475,683	494,470		431,155	403,357	337,257	1,918,859		1,666,239		1,707,617
Operating (loss) income	68,072		53,021	44,873	12,919	(12,698)		84,157	55,636	(4,084)	178,885		123,012		110,717
Net income attributable to ARRIS International plc	$ 44,507		$ 47,079	$ 35,754	$ (13,600)	$ 12,469		$ 88,320	$ 30,336	$ (39,098)	$ 113,740		$ 92,027		$ 18,100
Net (loss) income per basic share	$ 0.26		$ 0.26	$ 0.19	$ (0.07)	$ 0.07		$ 0.47	$ 0.16	$ (0.21)	$ 0.63	[7]	$ 0.49	[7]	$ 0.09	[7]
Net (loss) income per diluted share	$ 0.25		$ 0.26	$ 0.19	$ (0.07)	$ 0.07		$ 0.47	$ 0.16	$ (0.21)	$ 0.62	[7]	$ 0.49	[7]	$ 0.09	[7]

[1] For the quarter ended December 31, 2018, the Company recorded a gain on the sale of its Taiwan factory and certain equipment of $13.3 million.

[2] In the fourth quarter, the Company recorded losses of $5.7 million associated with the settlement and partial curtailment of its U.S. and Taiwan pension plans.

[3] During 2017, the Company recorded a foreign currency remeasurement loss of $10.5 million related primarily to a deferred income tax liability, in the United Kingdom. This deferred income tax liability is denominated in GBP. The foreign currency remeasurement gain derives from the remeasurement of the GBP deferred income tax liability to the USD, since the date of the acquisition.

[4] For the quarter ended December 31, 2017, the Company recorded an increase to net sales of $8.1 million, to reverse previous quarters reduction in net sales in connection with Warrants.

[5] In the fourth quarter of 2017, the Company recorded acquisition costs of $61.5 million related to the cash settlement of stock-based awards held by transferring employees.

[6] In the fourth quarter of 2017, the Company recorded partial impairments of goodwill and indefinite-lived tradenames of $51.2 million and $3.8 million, respectively, acquired in our ActiveVideo acquisition and included as part of our Cloud TV reporting unit, of which $19.3 million is attributable to noncontrolling interest.

[7] Calculated based on net income attributable to shareowners of ARRIS International plc.