Stockholders' Equity and Noncontrolling Interest (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			$ 315,621	$ 291,270	$ 291,270
Net income	$ 6,274	$ 10,871	19,838	23,632	32,534
Currency translation adjustment	(4,236)	$ (2,935)	(7,396)	$ (4,779)	(7,428)
Shares issued for employee benefit plan and compensation			$ 734		847
Purchase of treasury shares (in shares)			(1,593,420)	(367,949)
Purchase of treasury shares			$ (78,708)	$ (15,184)	(16,168)
Stock options exercised (in shares)			69,000
Stock options exercised			$ 1,648		8,122
Shares issued to Directors			0		0
Stock-based compensation expense			5,923		6,444
Tax benefit from exercise of non-qualified stock options and vested restricted stock			1,023
Business combination			378
Ending balance	$ 259,061		$ 259,061		$ 315,621
Common Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, shares			22,910,000	22,344,000	22,344,000
Shares issued for employee benefit plan and compensation (in shares)			99,000		160,000
Stock options exercised (in shares)			69,000		391,000
Shares issued to Directors (in shares)			22,000		15,000
Ending balance, shares	23,100,000		23,100,000		22,910,000
Treasury Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance, shares			(7,008,000)	(6,639,000)	(6,639,000)
Purchase of treasury shares (in shares)			(1,594,000)		(384,000)
Shares issued to Directors (in shares)					15,000
Ending balance, shares	(8,602,000)		(8,602,000)		(7,008,000)
Universal Electronics Inc. Stockholders' Equity
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			$ 315,621	$ 291,270	$ 291,270
Net income			19,835		32,534
Currency translation adjustment			(7,396)		(7,428)
Shares issued for employee benefit plan and compensation			734		847
Purchase of treasury shares			(78,708)		(16,168)
Stock options exercised			1,648		8,122
Shares issued to Directors			0		0
Stock-based compensation expense			5,923		6,444
Tax benefit from exercise of non-qualified stock options and vested restricted stock			1,023
Ending balance	$ 258,680		258,680		315,621
Noncontrolling Interest
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			0	$ 0	0
Net income			3
Business combination			378
Ending balance	$ 381		$ 381		$ 0