Benefit Plans - Summary of Contributions to Retirement Plans (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]
PCTEL, Inc. 401(k) Profit sharing Plan - US employees	$ 195	$ 154	$ 575	$ 503
Defined contribution plans - foreign employees	87	84	248	245
Total	$ 282	$ 238	$ 823	$ 748

The increase in the fair value of plan assets from contributions made by the employer.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)(3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=58740216&loc=d3e1928-114920

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanContributionsByEmployer
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration