Name:	affx_AllocatedShare-BasedCompensationExpenseEspp
Namespace Prefix:	affx_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Aggregate number of common shares reserved for future issuance related to ESPP

No definition available.

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

Number of purchase periods per offering period.

No definition available.

Name:	affx_EsppNumberOfPurchasePeriodsPerOfferingPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	affx_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Offering period.

No definition available.

Name:	affx_EsppOfferingPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	affx_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Purchase consideration as a percentage of market value.

No definition available.

Name:	affx_EsppPurchaseConsiderationAsPercentageOfMarketValue
Namespace Prefix:	affx_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

This element represents the look-back period for employee stock purchase plan.

No definition available.

Name:	affx_MaximumLookBackPeriodForEmployeeStockPurchasePlan
Namespace Prefix:	affx_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Number of months in a purchase period that results in a look-back for determining purchase price in the ESPP

No definition available.

Name:	affx_NumberOfMonthsInEachPurchasePeriod
Namespace Prefix:	affx_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Number of employees participating in ESPP as of balance sheet date

No definition available.

Name:	affx_NumberOfParticipantsInEspp
Namespace Prefix:	affx_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	affx_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsAndMethodologyEsppAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	affx_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The estimated dividend rate (a percentage of the share price) to be paid (expected dividends) to holders of the underlying shares over the option's term for ESPP.

No definition available.

Name:	affx_Share-BasedCompensationArrangementByShare-BasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedDividendRateForEspp
Namespace Prefix:	affx_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Expected term of share-based compensation awards, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days for ESPP.

No definition available.

Name:	affx_Share-BasedCompensationArrangementByShare-BasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedTermEspp
Namespace Prefix:	affx_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The estimated measure of the percentage by which a share price is expected to fluctuate during a period. Volatility also may be defined as a probability-weighted measure of the dispersion of returns about the mean. The volatility of a share price is the standard deviation of the continuously compounded rates of return on the share over a specified period. That is the same as the standard deviation of the differences in the natural logarithms of the stock prices plus dividends, if any, over the period for ESPP.

No definition available.

Name:	affx_Share-BasedCompensationArrangementByShare-BasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedVolatilityRateEspp
Namespace Prefix:	affx_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The risk-free interest rate assumption that is used in valuing an option on its own shares for ESPP plan.

No definition available.

Name:	affx_Share-BasedCompensationArrangementByShare-BasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRateEspp
Namespace Prefix:	affx_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	affx_StockholdersEquityAndShareBasedCompensationExpenseAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	affx_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The highest percentage of annual salary that an employee is permitted to utilize with respect to the plan.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 123R

-Paragraph 65

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 123R

-Paragraph A240

-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.

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardMaximumEmployeeSubscriptionRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The highest quantity of shares an employee can purchase under the plan per period.