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LEGAL PROCEEDINGS AND CONTINGENCIES (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended 0 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 0 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 0 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 0 Months Ended 1 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2014
Feb. 03, 2011
Dec. 31, 2008
Oct. 31, 2006
Oct. 31, 2004
patents
May 31, 2008
patents
Nov. 04, 2009
patents
Feb. 28, 2014
Nov. 30, 2009
patents
Feb. 05, 2013
May 01, 2012
patents
Dec. 22, 2008
Dec. 31, 2009
patents
Nov. 30, 2008
patents
Dec. 31, 2014
Apr. 30, 2012
patents
May 05, 2010
patents
May 31, 2010
patents
Feb. 28, 2010
patents
Gain and Loss Contingencies [Line Items]                                      
Federal tax benefit due to IRS settlement $ 2.8us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationTaxSettlementsDomestic                                    
State and local tax benefit due to IRS settlement 0.5us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationTaxSettlementsStateAndLocal                                    
Foreign earnings repatriated 5.0powi_RepatriationofForeignEarningsAmountNotSubjecttoIncomeTaxesifRepatriatedUnderAgreementswithTaxAuthorities                                    
Patent Infringement Claim One [Member] | Positive Outcome of Litigation [Member]                                      
Gain and Loss Contingencies [Line Items]                                      
Number of patents in filed infringement claims         4powi_NumberOfPatentsInFiledInfringementClaims
/ us-gaap_GainContingenciesByNatureAxis
= us-gaap_PositiveOutcomeOfLitigationMember
/ us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis
= powi_PatentInfringementClaimOneMember
                           
Damages awarded to the Company   12.9us-gaap_LitigationSettlementAmount
/ us-gaap_GainContingenciesByNatureAxis
= us-gaap_PositiveOutcomeOfLitigationMember
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= powi_PatentInfringementClaimOneMember
6.1us-gaap_LitigationSettlementAmount
/ us-gaap_GainContingenciesByNatureAxis
= us-gaap_PositiveOutcomeOfLitigationMember
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= powi_PatentInfringementClaimOneMember
34.0us-gaap_LitigationSettlementAmount
/ us-gaap_GainContingenciesByNatureAxis
= us-gaap_PositiveOutcomeOfLitigationMember
/ us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis
= powi_PatentInfringementClaimOneMember
                             
Patent Infringement Claim Two [Member] | Positive Outcome of Litigation [Member]                                      
Gain and Loss Contingencies [Line Items]                                      
Number of patents in filed infringement claims           3powi_NumberOfPatentsInFiledInfringementClaims
/ us-gaap_GainContingenciesByNatureAxis
= us-gaap_PositiveOutcomeOfLitigationMember
/ us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis
= powi_PatentInfringementClaimTwoMember
                         
Patent Infringement Claim Three [Member] | Positive Outcome of Litigation [Member]                                      
Gain and Loss Contingencies [Line Items]                                      
Number of patents in filed infringement claims             2powi_NumberOfPatentsInFiledInfringementClaims
/ us-gaap_GainContingenciesByNatureAxis
= us-gaap_PositiveOutcomeOfLitigationMember
/ us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis
= powi_PatentInfringementClaimThreeMember
  2powi_NumberOfPatentsInFiledInfringementClaims
/ us-gaap_GainContingenciesByNatureAxis
= us-gaap_PositiveOutcomeOfLitigationMember
/ us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis
= powi_PatentInfringementClaimThreeMember
                   
Number of patents in infringement case fairchild believes is unenforceable             1powi_NumberOfPatentsInInfringmentCaseUnenforceable
/ us-gaap_GainContingenciesByNatureAxis
= us-gaap_PositiveOutcomeOfLitigationMember
/ us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis
= powi_PatentInfringementClaimThreeMember
  1powi_NumberOfPatentsInInfringmentCaseUnenforceable
/ us-gaap_GainContingenciesByNatureAxis
= us-gaap_PositiveOutcomeOfLitigationMember
/ us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis
= powi_PatentInfringementClaimThreeMember
                   
Damages awarded to the Company               105.0us-gaap_LitigationSettlementAmount
/ us-gaap_GainContingenciesByNatureAxis
= us-gaap_PositiveOutcomeOfLitigationMember
/ us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis
= powi_PatentInfringementClaimThreeMember
                     
Property Lease Guarantee [Member]                                      
Gain and Loss Contingencies [Line Items]                                      
Damages sought after the Company                   2.4us-gaap_LossContingencyDamagesSoughtValue
/ us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis
= us-gaap_PropertyLeaseGuaranteeMember
                 
Counterclaims [Member]                                      
Gain and Loss Contingencies [Line Items]                                      
Number of patents in filed infringement claims                     5powi_NumberOfPatentsInFiledInfringementClaims
/ us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis
= powi_CounterclaimsMember
               
Pending Litigation [Member] | Patent Infringement Claim One [Member]                                      
Gain and Loss Contingencies [Line Items]                                      
Period for petition for further stay of permanent injunction                       90 days              
Pending Litigation [Member] | Patent Infringement Claim Two [Member]                                      
Gain and Loss Contingencies [Line Items]                                      
Number of patents in filed infringement claims                           3powi_NumberOfPatentsInFiledInfringementClaims
/ us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis
= powi_PatentInfringementClaimTwoMember
/ us-gaap_LitigationStatusAxis
= us-gaap_PendingLitigationMember
         
Number of patents withdrawn from infringement claims                         1powi_NumberOfPatentsWithdrawnFromInfringementClaims
/ us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis
= powi_PatentInfringementClaimTwoMember
/ us-gaap_LitigationStatusAxis
= us-gaap_PendingLitigationMember
           
Number of patents remaining in infringement claims                         2powi_NumberOfPatentsRemainingInInfringementClaims
/ us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis
= powi_PatentInfringementClaimTwoMember
/ us-gaap_LitigationStatusAxis
= us-gaap_PendingLitigationMember
           
Percent of revenue impacted by patents involved in litigation                             0.30%powi_LossContingencyPercentOfRevenueImpactedByPatentsInvolvedInLitigation
/ us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis
= powi_PatentInfringementClaimTwoMember
/ us-gaap_LitigationStatusAxis
= us-gaap_PendingLitigationMember
       
Pending Litigation [Member] | Patent Infringement Claim Two Counterclaim [Member]                                      
Gain and Loss Contingencies [Line Items]                                      
Number of patents remaining in infringement claims                               2powi_NumberOfPatentsRemainingInInfringementClaims
/ us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis
= powi_PatentInfringementClaimTwoCounterclaimMember
/ us-gaap_LitigationStatusAxis
= us-gaap_PendingLitigationMember
     
Pending Litigation [Member] | Patent Infringement Claim Three [Member]                                      
Gain and Loss Contingencies [Line Items]                                      
Number of patents in filed infringement claims                                 2powi_NumberOfPatentsInFiledInfringementClaims
/ us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis
= powi_PatentInfringementClaimThreeMember
/ us-gaap_LitigationStatusAxis
= us-gaap_PendingLitigationMember
   
Number of patents added to infringement claims                                   1powi_NumberOfPatentsAddedToInfringementClaims
/ us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis
= powi_PatentInfringementClaimThreeMember
/ us-gaap_LitigationStatusAxis
= us-gaap_PendingLitigationMember
 
Number of patents withdrawn from infringement claims                                 1powi_NumberOfPatentsWithdrawnFromInfringementClaims
/ us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis
= powi_PatentInfringementClaimThreeMember
/ us-gaap_LitigationStatusAxis
= us-gaap_PendingLitigationMember
   
Pending Litigation [Member] | Patent Infringement Claim Four [Member]                                      
Gain and Loss Contingencies [Line Items]                                      
Number of patents in filed infringement claims                                     4powi_NumberOfPatentsInFiledInfringementClaims
/ us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis
= powi_PatentInfringementClaimFourMember
/ us-gaap_LitigationStatusAxis
= us-gaap_PendingLitigationMember
Damages sought after the Company                                     $ 19.0us-gaap_LossContingencyDamagesSoughtValue
/ us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis
= powi_PatentInfringementClaimFourMember
/ us-gaap_LitigationStatusAxis
= us-gaap_PendingLitigationMember
Pending Litigation [Member] | Patent Infringment Claim Five [Member]                                      
Gain and Loss Contingencies [Line Items]                                      
Number of patents in filed infringement claims                     4powi_NumberOfPatentsInFiledInfringementClaims
/ us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis
= powi_PatentInfringmentClaimFiveMember
/ us-gaap_LitigationStatusAxis
= us-gaap_PendingLitigationMember
               
Number of patents withdrawn from infringement claims                     1powi_NumberOfPatentsWithdrawnFromInfringementClaims
/ us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis
= powi_PatentInfringmentClaimFiveMember
/ us-gaap_LitigationStatusAxis
= us-gaap_PendingLitigationMember
               
Judicial Ruling [Member] | Patent Infringement Claim Two Counterclaim [Member]                                      
Gain and Loss Contingencies [Line Items]                                      
Number of patent infringements                               2powi_NumberofPatentInfringements
/ us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis
= powi_PatentInfringementClaimTwoCounterclaimMember
/ us-gaap_LitigationStatusAxis
= us-gaap_JudicialRulingMember
     
Number of patents not infringed                               1powi_NumberofPatentsNotInfringed
/ us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis
= powi_PatentInfringementClaimTwoCounterclaimMember
/ us-gaap_LitigationStatusAxis
= us-gaap_JudicialRulingMember