Income (Loss) Per Common Share - Shares Excluded from EPS (Details) - shares shares in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Diluted income (loss) per share
Common share equivalents excluded from the diluted weighted average shares outstanding since Veeco incurred a net loss and their effect would be antidilutive		66
Unvested participating shares
Basic income (loss) per share
Unvested participating shares excluded from basic weighted average shares outstanding since the securityholders are not obligated to fund losses		722
Non-participating shares
Diluted income (loss) per share
Shares excluded from the diluted calculation as their effect would be antidilutive	1,499	2,295
Convertible Senior Notes
Diluted income (loss) per share
Shares excluded from the diluted calculation as their effect would be antidilutive	8,618