Income (Loss) Per Common Share (Details 2) - shares shares in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Diluted income (loss) per share
Shares excluded from the calculation of diluted net income (loss) per share since Veeco incurred a net loss (in shares)	169	321	174
Nonvested Participating Shares
Basic income (loss) per share
Shares excluded from the calculation of basic net income (loss) per share since Veeco incurred a net loss (in shares)	1,100	1,100	1,100
Non-participating Shares
Diluted income (loss) per share
Shares excluded from the calculation of diluted net income (loss) per share (in shares)	1,976	1,045	1,964	921