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GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS (Finite Lived Intangible Assets) (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended 1 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2014
Jan. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Jan. 02, 2015
Intangible Assets, Net[Abstract]          
Amortization of intangibles $ 1,786us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets $ 1,856us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets      
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross 67,800us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross     58,780us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross  
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization (25,042)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization     (23,256)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization  
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net 42,758us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet     35,524us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet  
Internet Domain Names [Member]          
Intangible Assets, Net[Abstract]          
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets 1,261us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill
/ powi_FiniteAndIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_InternetDomainNamesMember
    1,261us-gaap_IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill
/ powi_FiniteAndIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_InternetDomainNamesMember
 
In-process research and developement [Member]          
Intangible Assets, Net[Abstract]          
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross 4,690us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
/ powi_FiniteAndIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_InProcessResearchAndDevelopmentMember
    4,690us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
/ powi_FiniteAndIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_InProcessResearchAndDevelopmentMember
 
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization 0us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ powi_FiniteAndIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_InProcessResearchAndDevelopmentMember
    0us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ powi_FiniteAndIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_InProcessResearchAndDevelopmentMember
 
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net 4,690us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
/ powi_FiniteAndIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_InProcessResearchAndDevelopmentMember
    4,690us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
/ powi_FiniteAndIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_InProcessResearchAndDevelopmentMember
 
Technology licenses [Member]          
Intangible Assets, Net[Abstract]          
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross 3,000us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
/ powi_FiniteAndIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_LicensingAgreementsMember
    3,000us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
/ powi_FiniteAndIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_LicensingAgreementsMember
 
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization (2,700)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ powi_FiniteAndIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_LicensingAgreementsMember
    (2,625)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ powi_FiniteAndIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_LicensingAgreementsMember
 
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net 300us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
/ powi_FiniteAndIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_LicensingAgreementsMember
    375us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
/ powi_FiniteAndIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_LicensingAgreementsMember
 
Patents [Member]          
Intangible Assets, Net[Abstract]          
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross 1,949us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
/ powi_FiniteAndIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_PatentsMember
    1,949us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
/ powi_FiniteAndIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_PatentsMember
 
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization (1,949)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ powi_FiniteAndIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_PatentsMember
    (1,949)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ powi_FiniteAndIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_PatentsMember
 
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net 0us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
/ powi_FiniteAndIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_PatentsMember
    0us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
/ powi_FiniteAndIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_PatentsMember
 
Developed technology [Member]          
Intangible Assets, Net[Abstract]          
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross 33,270us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
/ powi_FiniteAndIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_DevelopedTechnologyRightsMember
    26,670us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
/ powi_FiniteAndIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_DevelopedTechnologyRightsMember
 
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization (8,790)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ powi_FiniteAndIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_DevelopedTechnologyRightsMember
    (7,828)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ powi_FiniteAndIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_DevelopedTechnologyRightsMember
 
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net 24,480us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
/ powi_FiniteAndIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_DevelopedTechnologyRightsMember
    18,842us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
/ powi_FiniteAndIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_DevelopedTechnologyRightsMember
 
Customer relationships [Member]          
Intangible Assets, Net[Abstract]          
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross 20,030us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
/ powi_FiniteAndIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember
    17,610us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
/ powi_FiniteAndIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember
 
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization (8,003)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ powi_FiniteAndIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember
    (7,254)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ powi_FiniteAndIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember
 
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net 12,027us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
/ powi_FiniteAndIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember
    10,356us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
/ powi_FiniteAndIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember
 
Trade Names [Member]          
Intangible Assets, Net[Abstract]          
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross 3,600us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
/ powi_FiniteAndIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_TradeNamesMember
    3,600us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
/ powi_FiniteAndIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_TradeNamesMember
 
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Accumulated Amortization (3,600)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ powi_FiniteAndIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_TradeNamesMember
    (3,600)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ powi_FiniteAndIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_TradeNamesMember
 
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net 0us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
/ powi_FiniteAndIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_TradeNamesMember
    0us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
/ powi_FiniteAndIndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_TradeNamesMember
 
Minimum [Member]          
Intangible Assets, Net[Abstract]          
Amortization useful life range 2 years        
Maximum [Member]          
Intangible Assets, Net[Abstract]          
Amortization useful life range 12 years        
Cambridge Semiconductor Limited [Member]          
Intangible Assets, Net[Abstract]          
Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Finite-Lived Intangibles         9,020us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibles
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= powi_CambridgeSemiconductorLimitedMember
Cambridge Semiconductor Limited [Member] | Customer relationships [Member]          
Intangible Assets, Net[Abstract]          
Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Finite-Lived Intangibles         2,420us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibles
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= powi_CambridgeSemiconductorLimitedMember
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember
Amortization useful life range 5 years   5 years    
Cambridge Semiconductor Limited [Member] | Developed technology [Member]          
Intangible Assets, Net[Abstract]          
Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Finite-Lived Intangibles         $ 6,600us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibles
/ us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis
= powi_CambridgeSemiconductorLimitedMember
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_DevelopedTechnologyRightsMember
Cambridge Semiconductor Limited [Member] | Developed technology [Member] | Minimum [Member]          
Intangible Assets, Net[Abstract]          
Amortization useful life range     3 years    
Cambridge Semiconductor Limited [Member] | Developed technology [Member] | Maximum [Member]          
Intangible Assets, Net[Abstract]          
Amortization useful life range     7 years