Basis of Presentation (Details)	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Percentage of ownership for cost method investment, maximum	20.00%

Represents the maximum percentage of investment in other entities which are being accounted for by using the cost method.

No definition available.

Name:	rmbs_CostMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentageMaximum
Namespace Prefix:	rmbs_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration