Cover - USD ($) $ in Billions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Feb. 28, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Cover [Abstract]
Entity Central Index Key	0000863436
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Annual Report	true
Document Transition Report	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2019
Entity Registrant Name	BENCHMARK ELECTRONICS, INC.
Entity File Number	1-10560
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	TX
Entity Tax Identification Number	74-2211011
Entity Address, Address Line One	56 South Rockford Drive
Entity Address, City or Town	Tempe
Entity Address, State or Province	AZ
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	85281
City Area Code	623
Local Phone Number	300-7000
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, par value $0.10 per share
Trading Symbol	BHE
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		36,755,144
Entity Public Float			$ 0.9
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Documents Incorporated by Reference	Portions of the Company’s Proxy Statement for the 2020 Annual Shareholders Meeting are incorporated herein by reference (Part III, Items 10-14).