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Senior note holders are paid off in full before any payments are made to junior note holders.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 false2Senior Notes3false 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This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. false3Conversion price of convertible debt11false 4affx_PercentageCompanySCommonStockHasBeenAboveConversionPriceaffx_falsenainstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalse3truetruefalse1.31.3falsefalsefalse4falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsenum:percentItemTypepureConversion triggering common stock trading price as a percentage of price last reported in Measurement period converted at conversion rate.No definition available.false0Percentage of common stock above conversion price (in hundredths)12false 4affx_NumberofConsecutiveTradingDaysWithinMeasurementPeriodaffx_falsenainstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse0020 daysfalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:durationItemTypenaThe number of consecutive trading days the Company's common stock has been above the threshold for conversionNo definition available.false0Number of consecutive trading days within measurement period13false 4affx_NumberOfConsecutiveTradingDaysOnWhichTradingPriceIsExaminedForTriggeringOfConversionaffx_falsenainstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse0030 daysfalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:durationItemTypenaNumber of consecutive trading days on which trading price is examined for triggering of conversionNo definition available.false0Number of consecutive trading days on which trading price is examined for triggering of conversion14false 4affx_NumberofTradingDaystoTriggerMeasurementPeriodWithinDateCompanyProvidesNoticeofRedemptionaffx_falsenainstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse005 daysfalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:durationItemTypenaNumber of trading days to trigger measurement period within date Company provides notice of redemptionNo definition available.false0Number of trading days to trigger measurement period within date company provides notice of redemption15false 4affx_PercentageOfPrincipalAmountThatRedemptionPriceWillBeEqualToaffx_falsenainstantfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalse3truetruefalse11falsefalsefalse4falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsenum:percentItemTypepurePercentage of principal amount that the redemption price will be equal to.No definition available.false0Percentage of Principal Amount That The Redemption Price Will Be Equal To16false 4affx_DebtInstrument400ConvertibleInterestExpenseaffx_falsedebitdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse24000002400000falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryInterest expense related to 4.00% convertible debt instruments which has been recognized for the period, including the contractual interest coupon and amortization of the debt discount, if any.No definition available.false2Debt Instrument, 4.00% Convertible, Interest Expense17false 4affx_RepurchaseOfConvertibleDebtIncludingAccruedInterestaffx_falsecreditdurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse39000003900000falsefalsefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe cash outflow from the repurchase 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, including any accrued interest.No definition available.false2Repurchase of Convertible Debt, including accrued interest18false 4affx_DebtInstrument350ConvertibleInterestExpenseaffx_falsenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse100000100000USD$falsetruefalsexbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryInterest expense related to 3.50% convertible debt instruments which has been recognized for the period, including the contractual interest coupon and amortization of the debt discount, if any.No definition available.false2Debt Instrument, 3.50% Convertible, Interest Expense Paid With RepurchasefalseLONG-TERM DEBT OBLIGATIONS, Convertible Senior Notes (Details) (USD $)NoRoundingNoRoundingNoRoundingUnKnowntruefalsefalseNoteshttp://www.affymetrix.com/role/LongTermDebtObligationsConvertibleSeniorNotesDetails418