ACQUISITION - Additional information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Royalty Agreement Description				In addition, the agreement calls for an earn-out/royalty payment of two percent of the gross sales (for specific, identified customers) over a period of three years from the closing date, up to a maximum of $0.3 million that may or may not be paid to the seller within 90 days of each calendar year end, depending on performance by the identified customer(s). The final adjusted purchase price for the acquisition of Tectrol was $4.5 million, which includes the present value of $0.3 million of royalties to be paid on future sales,
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Nonproduction, Total		$ 616	$ 609	$ 1,225	$ 1,595
Payments On Contingent Consideration				59	0
Asset Purchase Agreement
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business acquisition cost acquired purchase price				5,200
Scenario, Adjustment
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Inventory Write Up	[1]			100
Pro Forma [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Nonproduction, Total					$ 31
CUI Canada
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration, Liability, Total		200		200
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration, Liability, Current		72		72
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration, Liability, Noncurrent		$ 78		$ 78

[1] The Power and Electromechanical segment includes $328 thousand net book value of product certifications that were reclassified from property plant and equipment as of June 30, 2015.