Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	In the opinion of management, the accompanying consolidated financial statements of Universal Electronics Inc. and its subsidiaries contain all the adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature and certain reclassifications have been made to prior year amounts in order to conform to the current year presentation. Information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements, which are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP"), have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. As used herein, the terms "Company," "we," "us," and "our" refer to Universal Electronics Inc. and its subsidiaries, unless the context indicates to the contrary. Our results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the "Risk Factors," "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk," and the "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" included in Items 1A, 7, 7A, and 8, respectively, of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.
Estimates, Judgments and Assumptions	The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires us to make estimates, judgments and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. On an on-going basis, we evaluate our estimates and assumptions, including those related to revenue recognition, allowances for sales returns and doubtful accounts, inventory valuation, our review for impairment of long-lived assets, intangible assets and goodwill, business combinations, income taxes, stock-based compensation expense and performance-based common stock warrants. Actual results may differ from these estimates and assumptions, and they may be adjusted as more information becomes available. Any adjustment may be material.
Revenue Recognition	We adopted Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers," and all related amendments as of January 1, 2018. The impact of this new guidance on our accounting policies and consolidated financial statements is also described below. There have been no other significant changes in our accounting policies during the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 compared to the significant accounting policies described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. Revenue Recognition Our performance obligations primarily arise from manufacturing and delivering universal control, sensing and automation products and AV accessories, which are sold through multiple channels, and intellectual property that is embedded in these products or licensed to others. These performance obligations are satisfied at a point in time or over time, as described below. Payment terms are typically on open credit terms consistent with industry practice and do not have significant financing components. Some contracts contain early payment discounts, which are recognized as a reduction to revenue if the customer typically meets the early payment conditions. Consideration may be variable based on indeterminate volumes. Effective January 1, 2018, revenue is recognized over time when the customer simultaneously receives and consumes the benefits provided by our performance, our performance creates or enhances an asset that the customer controls, or when our performance creates an asset with no alternative use to us (custom products) and we have an enforceable right to payment for performance completed to date, such as a firm order or other contractual commitment from the customer. An asset does not have an alternative use if we are unable to redirect the asset to another customer in the foreseeable future without significant rework. The method for measuring progress towards satisfying a performance obligation for a custom product is based on the costs incurred to date (cost-to-cost method). We believe that the costs associated with production are most closely aligned with the revenue associated with those products. We recognize revenue at a point in time if the criteria for recognizing revenue over time are not met, the title of the goods has transferred, and we have a present right to payment. We typically recognize revenue for the sale of tooling at a point in time, which is generally upon completion of the tooling and, if applicable, acceptance by the customer. A provision is recorded for estimated sales returns and allowances and is deducted from gross sales to arrive at net sales in the period the related revenue is recorded. These estimates are based on historical sales returns and allowances, analysis of credit memo data and other known factors. Actual returns and claims in any future period are inherently uncertain and thus may differ from our estimates. If actual or expected future returns and claims are significantly greater or lower than the reserves that we have established, we will record a reduction or increase to net revenue in the period in which we make such a determination. We accrue for discounts and rebates based on historical experience and our expectations regarding future sales to our customers. Accruals for discounts and rebates are recorded as a reduction to sales in the same period as the related revenue. Changes in such accruals may be required if future rebates and incentives differ from our estimates. We license our intellectual property including our patented technologies, trademarks, and database of control codes. When license fees are paid on a per-unit basis we record license revenue when our customers manufacture or ship a product incorporating our intellectual property and we have a present right to payment. When a fixed up-front license fee is received in exchange for the delivery of a particular database of infrared codes or the contract contains a minimum guarantee provision, we record revenue when delivery of the intellectual property has occurred. Tiered royalties are recorded on a straight-line basis according to the forecasted per-unit fees taking into account the pricing tiers. Contract assets represent revenue which has been recognized based on our accounting policies but for which the customer has not yet been invoiced and thus an account receivable has not yet been recorded. Under prior accounting standards, we recognized revenue on the sale of products when title of the goods had transferred, there was persuasive evidence of an arrangement (such as a purchase order from the customer), the sales price was fixed or determinable and collectability was reasonably assured. Revenue for term license fees were recognized on a straight-line basis over the effective term of the license when we could not reliably predict in which periods, within the term of the license, the licensee would benefit from the use of our patented inventions.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	In August 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued ASU 2016-15, "Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments," which amends Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 230, "Statement of Cash Flows". This new guidance addresses eight specific cash flow issues with the objective of reducing the existing diversity in practice in how certain transactions are classified in the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-15 is effective for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and must be adopted retrospectively. The adoption of ASU 2016-15 did not have a material impact to the presentation of our consolidated statement of cash flows. In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-16, "Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory," which changes the accounting for income tax consequences of intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory. Current guidance prohibits the recognition of current and deferred income taxes for an intra-entity asset transfer until the asset has been sold to an outside party. Under this new guidance, the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory will be recognized when the transfer occurs. ASU 2016-16 is effective for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The adoption of ASU 2016-16 did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18,"Restricted Cash," which amends ASC 230, "Statement of Cash Flows." This new guidance addresses the classifications and presentation of changes in restricted cash in the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-18 is effective for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and must be adopted retrospectively. The adoption of ASU 2016-18 modified our current disclosures by reclassifying certain amounts within the consolidated statement of cash flows, but did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements. Recent Accounting Updates Not Yet Effective In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, "Leases," which changes the accounting for leases and requires expanded disclosures about leasing activities. This new guidance will require lessees to recognize a right of use asset and a lease liability at the commencement date for all leases with terms greater than twelve months. Accounting by lessors is largely unchanged. ASU 2016-02 is effective for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2018 and must be adopted using a modified retrospective approach. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact that ASU 2016-02 will have on our consolidated financial statements. In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, "Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment." This guidance simplifies how an entity is required to test goodwill for impairment by eliminating Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. Instead, if the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss will be recognized in an amount equal to that excess, limited to the total amount of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit. ASU 2017-04 is effective for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. We do not expect the adoption of ASU 2017-04 will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-07, "Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting." This guidance expands the scope of Topic 718, "Compensation - Stock Compensation" to include share-based payment transactions for acquiring goods and services from non-employees, but excludes awards granted in conjunction with selling goods or services to a customer as part of a contract accounted for under ASC 606, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers." We are currently evaluating the impact that ASU 2018-07 will have on our consolidated financial statements. On January 1, 2018, we adopted ASU 2014-09 using the modified retrospective transition method. Under this method, we evaluated all contracts that were in effect at the beginning of 2018 as if those contracts had been accounted for under the new revenue standard based on the terms in effect as of the adoption date. Under the modified retrospective transition approach, periods prior to the adoption date were not adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with historical U.S. GAAP. A cumulative catch-up adjustment was recorded to beginning retained earnings to reflect the impact of all existing arrangements under the new revenue standard.
Sales Returns	Sales Returns The allowance for sales returns at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 included reserves for items returned prior to period-end that were not completely processed, and therefore had not yet been removed from the allowance for sales returns balance.