Earnings Per Share (Net Income Per Share Basic And Diluted) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Numerator:
Net income	$ 95,228	$ 47,532	$ 53,024	$ 55,939	$ 138,644	$ 76,730	$ 64,461	$ 59,688	$ 251,723	$ 339,523	$ 352,547
Denominator:
Denominator for basic earnings per share - weighted-average shares outstanding									169,879	186,672	186,722
Effect of dilutive employee stock awards:
Employee stock awards									1,391	1,573	2,407
Denominator for diluted earnings per share - weighted-average shares outstanding									171,270	188,245	189,129
Net income per share attributable to Citrix Systems, Inc. stockholders - basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.59	$ 0.29	$ 0.31	$ 0.30	$ 0.75	$ 0.41	$ 0.34	$ 0.32	$ 1.48	$ 1.82	$ 1.89
Net income per share attributable to Citrix Systems, Inc. stockholders - diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.58	$ 0.29	$ 0.31	$ 0.30	$ 0.74	$ 0.41	$ 0.34	$ 0.32	$ 1.47	$ 1.80	$ 1.86
Anti-dilutive weighted-average shares									3,026	3,647	3,464
Senior Notes Due 2019
Effect of dilutive employee stock awards:
Convertible debt, conversion price (in dollars per share)	$ 90.00								$ 90.00