Expected PRSUs to be Achieved

No definition available.

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

- Definition

Grant date fair value of 2011 CEO PRSU

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	affx_Share-BasedCompensationArrangementByShare-BasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGrantDateIntrinsicValuePrsu
Namespace Prefix:	affx_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Grant date fair value of PRSUs granted, 2012

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	affx_Share-BasedCompensationArrangementByShare-BasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGrantDateIntrinsicValueTwelvePrsu
Namespace Prefix:	affx_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Unrecognized cost of unvested share-based compensation awards.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (i)

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

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Weighted average period over which unrecognized compensation is expected to be recognized for equity-based compensation plans, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedPeriodForRecognition1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Estimated period over which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the equity-based payment award, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (a)(1)

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

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardRequisiteServicePeriod1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Period which an employee's right to exercise an award is no longer contingent on satisfaction of either a service condition, market condition or a performance condition, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (a)(1)

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

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingPeriod1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Fair value of share-based awards for which the grantee gained the right by satisfying service and performance requirements, to receive or retain shares or units, other instruments, or cash.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (d)(2)

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

+ Details

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

- Details

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

- Definition

Net number of share options (or share units) granted during the period.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)(1)(iv)(1)

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

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis=us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PlanNameAxis=affx_Program2014MemberMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY AND SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION EXPENSE - Performance-Based Awards Narrative (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended				3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Restricted stock awards vested, Fair value	$ 5.9	$ 3.9
Requisite service period	4 years
Unrecognized share-based compensation expense	15.2
2014 Program [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Requisite service period	12 months
Options granted	564,100
Options fair value (in dollars per share)	$ 7.71
Expected grants to be achieved	507,100
Unrecognized share-based compensation expense	1.9
2014 Program [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period	2 years
2014 Program [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period	4 years
Performance Shares [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Restricted stock awards vested, Fair value	1.6	0.8
Unrecognized share-based compensation expense	2.0
Recognition period	4 years
Performance Shares [Member] \| 2011 CEO Grants [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Requisite service period	12 months
Options granted	42,000	25,000	60,000	240,000
Options fair value (in dollars per share)	$ 4.67	$ 4.63	$ 6.71
Expected grants to be achieved	27,000
Expected grants to be achieved fair value (in dollars per share)	$ 7.22
Unrecognized share-based compensation expense	0.1
Performance Shares [Member] \| 2012 Program [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Requisite service period	12 months
Options granted	144,100	164,255	911,500
Options fair value (in dollars per share)			$ 4.16
Performance Shares [Member] \| 2013 Program [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Requisite service period		12 months
Options granted	104,500	340,000
Options fair value (in dollars per share)		$ 3.84
Expected grants to be achieved	100,000
Unrecognized share-based compensation expense	$ 0.1
Performance Shares [Member] \| 2013 Program [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period		2 years
Performance Shares [Member] \| 2013 Program [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period		4 years
Performance Shares [Member] \| 2013 Product Launch Initiative Program [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Requisite service period		6 months
Options granted		146,750			15,000	63,750
Options fair value (in dollars per share)		$ 5.51
Performance Shares [Member] \| 2013 Product Launch Initiative Program [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period		8 months