LONG-TERM DEBT OBLIGATIONS, Convertible Senior Notes (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
Jun. 25, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
LONG-TERM DEBT OBLIGATIONS [Abstract]
4.00% Convertible Senior Notes Aggregate Principal Amount	$ 105,000	$ 105,000
Debt Issuance Cost for 4.00% Convertible Senior Notes	3,855
Net Proceeds From Issuance of 4.00% Convertible Senior Notes	101,062	101,062	0
4.00%, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	4.00%
Amortization Period For Debt Issuance Cost Convertible Notes	7 years
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Shares per $1,000 principal amount of 4.00% Convertible Senior Notes	170.0319
Maximum Number of Shares Upon Conversion of the 4.00% Convertible Senior Notes	17,857
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Conversion Price	$ 5.88
Date Which Convertible Notes Will Become Redeemable	Jul. 01, 2017
Percentage Company's common stock has been above conversion price	130.00%
Number of Consecutive Trading Days Within Measurement Period	P20D
Number Of Consecutive Trading Days On Which Trading Price Is Examined For Triggering Of Conversion	P30D
Number of Trading Days to Trigger Measurement Period Within Date Company Provides Notice of Redemption	P5D
Percentage of Principal Amount That The Redemption Price Will Be Equal To	100.00%
Aggregate Principal Amount of 3.50% Senior Convertible Notes Repurchased		91,614
Repayments of Convertible Debt excluding accrued interest		92,059
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Interest Expense		445
Debt Related Commitment Fees and Debt Issuance Costs		262
3.50% Senior Convertible Notes Aggregate Principal Amount		$ 3,855
Percentage of Principal Amount Holders Can Require Company To Repurchase Notes		100.00%
Date Holders Of Notes Can Require Company Require Company To Repurchase	Jan. 15, 2013

Amortization period of debt issuance costs for Convertible Notes

No definition available.

Name:	affx_AmortizationPeriodForDebtIssuanceCostConvertibleNotes
Namespace Prefix:	affx_
Data Type:	us-types:durationStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Date holders of notes can require Company require company to repurchase

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	affx_DateHoldersOfNotesCanRequireCompanyRequireCompanyToRepurchase
Namespace Prefix:	affx_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Date on which the 4.00% Notes will become redeemable

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	affx_DateWhichConvertibleNotesWillBecomeRedeemable
Namespace Prefix:	affx_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of debt issuance costs (for example, but not limited to, legal, accounting, broker, and regulatory fees) for the 4.00% Notes.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	affx_DebtIssuanceCost-FourNotes
Namespace Prefix:	affx_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

4.00% Interest rate stated in the contractual debt agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	affx_FourinterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	affx_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of shares of common stock if the 4.00% Notes are converted.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	affx_MaximumNumberOfSharesUponConversionOf400Notes
Namespace Prefix:	affx_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of consecutive trading days on which trading price is examined for triggering of conversion

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	affx_NumberOfConsecutiveTradingDaysOnWhichTradingPriceIsExaminedForTriggeringOfConversion
Namespace Prefix:	affx_
Data Type:	invest:dateStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of consecutive trading days the Company's common stock has been above the threshold for conversion

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	affx_NumberOfTradingDaysCompanySCommonStockHasBeenAboveThresholdForConversion
Namespace Prefix:	affx_
Data Type:	invest:dateStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of trading days to trigger measurement period within date Company provides notice of redemption

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	affx_NumberOfTradingDaysToTriggerMeasurementPeriodWithinDateCompanyProvidesNoticeOfRedemption
Namespace Prefix:	affx_
Data Type:	invest:dateStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Conversion triggering common stock trading price as a percentage of price last reported in Measurement period converted at conversion rate.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	affx_PercentageCompanySCommonStockHasBeenAboveConversionPrice
Namespace Prefix:	affx_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage of principal amount holders can require company to repurchase notes

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	affx_PercentageOfPrincipalAmountHoldersCanRequireCompanyToRepurchaseNotes
Namespace Prefix:	affx_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage of principal Amount that the redemption price will be equal to

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	affx_PercentageOfPrincipalAmountThatRedemptionPriceWillBeEqualTo
Namespace Prefix:	affx_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The cash outflow from the repayment of a long-term debt instrument which can be exchanged for a specified amount of another security, typically the entity's common stock, at the option of the issuer or the holder, excluding any accrued interest.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	affx_RepaymentsOfConvertibleDebtExcludingAccruedInterest
Namespace Prefix:	affx_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Repurchase of Aggregate Principal Amount of Convertible Notes

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	affx_RepurchaseOfAggregatePrincipalAmountOfConvertibleNotes
Namespace Prefix:	affx_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Including the current and noncurrent portions, carrying amount of debt identified as being convertible into another form of financial instrument (typically the entity's common stock) as of the balance sheet date, which originally required full repayment more than twelve months after issuance or greater than the normal operating cycle of the company.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 20, 22

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.16)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 16

-Article 9

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16(a)(2))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ConvertibleDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtDisclosureAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The price per share of the conversion feature embedded in the debt instrument.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 470

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928298&loc=SL6031898-161870

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)

-Number APB14-1

-Paragraph 32

-Subparagraph b

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleConversionPrice1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The ratio applied to the debt for purposes of determining the number of shares of the equity security into which the debt will be converted.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 6

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21506-112644

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 7

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21521-112644

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21475-112644

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Conversion Rate

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6509012

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 129

-Paragraph 4

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(5))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleConversionRatio
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Interest expense related to convertible debt instruments which has been recognized for the period, including the contractual interest coupon and amortization of the debt discount, if any.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 470

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 6

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928298&loc=SL6036836-161870

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)

-Number APB14-1

-Paragraph 33

-Subparagraph b

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleInterestExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the charge against earnings during the period for commitment fees and debt issuance expenses.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.8)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6880815&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 8

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtRelatedCommitmentFeesAndDebtIssuanceCosts
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash inflow from the issuance of a long-term debt instrument which can be exchanged for a specified amount of another security, typically the entity's common stock, at the option of the issuer or the holder.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 95

-Paragraph 19

-Subparagraph b

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Financing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 95

-Paragraph 18

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 14

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3255-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromConvertibleDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Including the current and noncurrent portions, carrying value as of the balance sheet date of Notes with the highest claim on the assets of the issuer in case of bankruptcy or liquidation (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer). Senior note holders are paid off in full before any payments are made to junior note holders.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.16)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 16

-Article 9

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16(a))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SeniorNotes
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant