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STOCK PLANS AND SHARE BASED COMPENSATION (Stock-Based Compensation) (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Stock-based compensation expense for stock options, stock awards and employee stock purchases included in operations:      
Stock-based compensation expense $ 14,282us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense $ 16,485us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense $ 14,224us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
Unrecognized compensation costs 22,470us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized    
Cost of revenues [Member]      
Stock-based compensation expense for stock options, stock awards and employee stock purchases included in operations:      
Stock-based compensation expense 879us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= us-gaap_CostOfSalesMember
1,074us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= us-gaap_CostOfSalesMember
1,058us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= us-gaap_CostOfSalesMember
Research and Development Expense [Member]      
Stock-based compensation expense for stock options, stock awards and employee stock purchases included in operations:      
Stock-based compensation expense 4,784us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpenseMember
5,746us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpenseMember
5,503us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= us-gaap_ResearchAndDevelopmentExpenseMember
Selling and Marketing Expense [Member]      
Stock-based compensation expense for stock options, stock awards and employee stock purchases included in operations:      
Stock-based compensation expense 3,540us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= us-gaap_SellingAndMarketingExpenseMember
3,642us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= us-gaap_SellingAndMarketingExpenseMember
3,317us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= us-gaap_SellingAndMarketingExpenseMember
General and Administrative Expense [Member]      
Stock-based compensation expense for stock options, stock awards and employee stock purchases included in operations:      
Stock-based compensation expense 5,079us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpenseMember
6,023us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpenseMember
4,346us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpenseMember
Stock Options [Member]      
Stock-based compensation expense for stock options, stock awards and employee stock purchases included in operations:      
Awards vesting period 4 years    
Stock-based compensation expense 1,200us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
2,300us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
4,000us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
Unrecognized compensation costs 786us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockOptionMember
   
Unrecognized compensation costs, period of recognition (in years) 1 year 1 month 9 days    
Performance Based Awards [Member]      
Stock-based compensation expense for stock options, stock awards and employee stock purchases included in operations:      
Stock-based compensation expense   3,200us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= powi_PerformanceBasedAwardsMember
2,100us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= powi_PerformanceBasedAwardsMember
Long-Term Performance-based Awards [Member]      
Stock-based compensation expense for stock options, stock awards and employee stock purchases included in operations:      
Stock-based compensation expense 500us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= powi_LongTermPerformancebasedUnitsMember
   
Unrecognized compensation costs 1,255us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= powi_LongTermPerformancebasedUnitsMember
   
Unrecognized compensation costs, period of recognition (in years) 2 years    
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]      
Stock-based compensation expense for stock options, stock awards and employee stock purchases included in operations:      
Awards vesting period 4 years    
Stock-based compensation expense 11,300us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
9,800us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
7,000us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
Unrecognized compensation costs 20,285us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
   
Unrecognized compensation costs, period of recognition (in years) 2 years 3 months 14 days    
Employee Stock [Member]      
Stock-based compensation expense for stock options, stock awards and employee stock purchases included in operations:      
Stock-based compensation expense 1,300us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember
1,200us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember
1,100us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember
Unrecognized compensation costs $ 144us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember
   
Unrecognized compensation costs, period of recognition (in years) 6 months