Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019
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.
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 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.
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. Our contracts have an anticipated duration of less than a year. 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, and are insignificant to net sales. 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 through a 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. Revenue recognized over time, for which we have not yet invoiced the customer, is included in contract assets in our consolidated balance sheets. Generally, we invoice the customer within 90 days of revenue recognition. 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, prior to January 1, 2018, 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. Trade accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest. Sales allowances are recognized as reductions of gross accounts receivable to arrive at accounts receivable, net if the sales allowances are distributed in customer account credits. See Note 4 for further information concerning our sales allowances. Revenue for the sale of tooling is recognized when the related tooling has been provided, customer acceptance documentation has been obtained, the sales price is fixed or determinable, and collectability is reasonably assured. Consideration received in advance of us satisfying the performance obligation is included in other accrued liabilities as tooling in our consolidated balance sheets. We generate service revenue, which is paid monthly, as a result of providing customer support programs to some of our customers through our call centers. These service revenues are recognized when services are performed, persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists (such as when a signed agreement is received from the customer), the sales price is fixed or determinable, and collectability is reasonably assured. We present all non-income government-assessed taxes (sales, use and value added taxes) collected from our customers and remitted to governmental agencies on a net basis (excluded from revenue) in our financial statements. The government-assessed taxes are recorded in other accrued liabilities until they are remitted to the government agency.
Leases	We determine if an arrangement is a lease at inception and determine the classification of the lease, as either operating or finance, at commencement. Operating leases are included in operating lease right-of-use (“ROU”) assets, other accrued liabilities and long-term operating lease liabilities on our consolidated balance sheets. We presently do not have any finance leases. ROU assets represent our right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at the commencement date of the lease based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. As most of our leases do not provide an implicit rate, we use our incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the commencement date, including the lease term, in determining the present value of lease payments. Operating lease ROU assets also factor in any lease payments made, initial direct costs and lease incentives received. Our lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that we will exercise that option. Some of our leases include options to extend with a range of three to five years with up to two extensions at the then current market rate. Lease expense for lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Leases with an initial term of twelve months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet and are recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. If applicable, we combine lease and non-lease components, which primarily relate to ancillary expenses associated with real estate leases such as common area maintenance charges and management fees.
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements and Recent Accounting Updates Note Yet Effective	Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued ASU 2016-02 (with amendments issued in 2018), which changes the accounting for leases and requires expanded disclosures about leasing activities. This new guidance also requires 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. We adopted ASU 2016-02 on January 1, 2019 using the modified retrospective optional transition method. Thus, the standard was applied starting January 1, 2019 and prior periods were not restated. We applied the package of practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance. As a result, we did not reassess the identification, classification and initial direct costs of leases commencing before the effective date. We also applied the practical expedient to not separate lease and non-lease components to all new leases as well as leases commencing before the effective date. Upon adoption, ASU 2016-02 resulted in the recognition of lease ROU assets, accrued liabilities and long-term liabilities related to operating leases of $20.7 million, $3.3 million and $17.0 million, respectively. In addition, assets and liabilities totaling $2.5 million and $2.3 million, respectively, were reclassified into the opening ROU asset balance. The adoption of ASU 2016-02 did not result in any cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings and did not have any impact on our results of operations, cash flows or debt covenants. See Note 5 for additional information. Other Accounting Pronouncements In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-07, "Improvements to Non-employee 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." The adoption of ASU 2018-07 did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, "Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract," which amends ASC 350-40, "Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal-Use Software." The ASU aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software and requires the capitalized implementation costs to be expensed over the term of the hosting arrangement. The accounting for the service element of a hosting arrangement that is a service contract is not affected. ASU 2018-15 is effective for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The adoption of ASU 2018-15, effective January 1, 2019, did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. Recent Accounting Updates Not Yet Effective In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, “Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments.” This guidance updates existing guidance for measuring and recording credit losses on financial assets measured at amortized cost by replacing the “incurred loss” model with an “expected loss” model. Accordingly, these financial assets will be presented at the net amount expected to be collected. ASU 2016-13 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact that ASU 2016-13 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 31, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. We do not expect the adoption of ASU 2017-04 to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.