Amortization period of debt issuance costs for Term Loan.

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- Definition

Debt Instrument, Amortization Year Five and After

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- Definition

Debt Instrument, Amortization Year Four

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- Definition

Debt Instrument, Amortization Year Three

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- Definition

Debt Instrument, Amortization Year Two

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- Definition

Debt Instrument, Annual Amortization

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- Definition

Debt Instrument, Sum of LIBOR Interest Period

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- Definition

Debt Instrument, Sum of LIBOR Interest Period Advance Determination

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- Definition

Amount of debt issuance costs (for example, but not limited to, legal, accounting, broker, and regulatory fees) for Term Loan.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Interest Coverage ratio

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- Definition

Minimum Prepayment Percentage of Excess Cash Flow

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- Definition

Minimum Prepayment Percentage of Net Cash Proceeds of Issuances or Incurrences of Debt Obligations

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No definition available.

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- Definition

Minimum Prepayment Percentage of Net Proceeds of Asset Sales Over Threshold Amount

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No definition available.

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- Definition

Net Proceeds of Asset Sales Threshold to Trigger Prepayment

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No definition available.

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- Definition

Number of Days in a Year Used to Calculate Rate

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No definition available.

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- Definition

Senior Leverage Ratio

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No definition available.

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- Definition

Term of Debt Used to Determine Interest Rate

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No definition available.

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- Definition

Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

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No definition available.

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- Definition

States whether the entity was in compliance with the debt covenants throughout the reporting period, and describes facts and circumstances of any compliance failure.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 470

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (g)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6479336&loc=d3e64711-112823

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- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399

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- Definition

Effective interest rate for the funds borrowed under the debt agreement considering interest compounding and original issue discount or premium.

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

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-Paragraph 2

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-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))

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

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- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

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- Definition

Period of time between issuance and maturity of debt instrument, in PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Amount of unused borrowing capacity under the long-term financing arrangement that is available to the entity as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

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- Definition

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

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Represents the portion of interest incurred in the period on debt arrangements that was charged against earnings, excluding amortization of debt discount (premium) and financing costs.

+ 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 8

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

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- Definition

The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current and noncurrent portions of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement.

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-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16)

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- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

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- Definition

Carrying amount of long-term debt, net of unamortized discount or premium, including current and noncurrent amounts. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

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

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-SubTopic 10

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-Number 210

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Amount of long-term debt, after unamortized discount or premium, scheduled to be repaid within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations.

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Carrying value as of the balance sheet date, including the current and noncurrent portions, of collateralized debt obligations (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle, if longer). Such obligations include mortgage loans, chattel loans, and any other borrowings secured by assets of the borrower.

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LONG-TERM DEBT OBLIGATIONS, Term Loan and Revolving Credit Facility Narrative (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	1 Months Ended
	Jun. 25, 2012	Mar. 31, 2015	Oct. 17, 2013	Oct. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Jul. 28, 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Current portion of long-term debt		$ 4,000,000us-gaap_LongTermDebtCurrent			$ 4,000,000us-gaap_LongTermDebtCurrent
Interest rate at period end		3.04%
Uncommitted incremental term loan facility capacity						50,000,000
Debt-related covenants		As of March 31, 2015, the Company was in compliance with the covenants.
Debt issuance cost related to term loan	4,500,000affx_DebtIssuanceCost-TermLoan
Amortization period For debt issuance cost term loan	5 years
Outstanding principal balance of term loan as of balance sheet date		22,000,000us-gaap_SecuredDebt
Interest expense incurred		300,000
Outstanding balance under revolving credit facility		0us-gaap_LineOfCredit
4.00% Convertible Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		4.00%
Base Rate [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate			1.50%
Base Rate [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate			1.75%
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] \| Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period One [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Sum of LIBOR interest period advance determination			1 month
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] \| Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period Two [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Sum of LIBOR interest period advance determination			2 months
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] \| Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period Three [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Sum of LIBOR interest period advance determination			3 months
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] \| Debt Instrument, Redemption, Period Four [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Sum of LIBOR interest period advance determination			6 months
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate			2.50%
London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate			2.75%
Term Loan and Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Face amount	100,000,000.0
Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt term	5 years
Face amount	85,000,000.0
Debt outstanding			38,000,000
Debt issuance cost	2,500,000
Annual amortization year one		10.00%
Amortization year two		10.00%
Amortization year three		10.00%
Amortization year four		10.00%
Amortization year five and after		60.00%
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt term			5 years
Face amount			10,000,000.0
Original revolving credit facility	15,000,000.0
Debt outstanding			10,000,000
Refinanced Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Face amount			38,000,000.0
Debt issuance cost	800,000
Senior Secured Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Minimum prepayment percentage of excess cash flow	50.00%
Minimum prepayment percentage of net cash proceeds of issuances or incurrences of debt obligations	100.00%
Minimum prepayment percentage of net proceeds of asset sales over threshold amount	100.00%
Net proceeds of asset sales threshold to trigger prepayment	$ 2,500,000
Senior Secured Credit Facility [Member] \| Interest Period Option 1 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Term of debt used to determine interest rate				9 years
Senior Secured Credit Facility [Member] \| Interest Period Option 2 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Term of debt used to determine interest rate				12 years
Senior Secured Credit Facility [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Number of days in a year used to calculate rate				365 days
Interest coverage ratio			3.5
Senior leverage ratio			1.20
Senior Secured Credit Facility [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Number of days in a year used to calculate rate				366 days
Senior leverage ratio			1.75
Senior Secured Credit Facility [Member] \| Federal Funds Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate			0.50%
Senior Secured Credit Facility [Member] \| London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate			1.00%
Number of days in a year used to calculate rate				360 days
Sum of LIBOR interest period			1 month