Business Combinations (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Goodwill, Acquired During Period	$ 16,913,000
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest	26,470,000
Eris Technology Corporation [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Combination, Step Acquisition, Equity Interest in Acquiree, Description	Prior to August 31, 2012, the Company owned less than 50% of the outstanding common stock of Eris, a publicly traded company listed on Taiwan’s GreTai Securities Market that provides design, manufacturing and after-market services for diode products. The Company elected the fair value option to account for its less than 50% ownership that otherwise would have been accounted for under the equity method of accounting. See Note 2 for further information about the fair value option. On August 31, 2012, the Company acquired approximately 51% of the outstanding common stock of Eris. The Company has accounted for the additional purchase of shares as a business combination achieved in stages (“step acquisition”) and consolidated Eris beginning September 1, 2012.
Business Combination, Step Acquisition, Equity Interest in Acquiree, Percentage	51.00%
Business Combination, Step Acquisition, Equity Interest in Acquiree, Fair Value	27,000,000
Business Combination, Step Acquisition, Equity Interest in Acquiree, Remeasurement Gain	2,000,000
Business Combination, Step Acquisition, Equity Interest in Acquiree, Valuation Techniques	The shares of Eris common stock were valued under the fair value hierarchy as a Level 1 Input. In addition, Level 1 Input fair value measurements were used to measure both the fair value of the Company’s preexisting investment and the fair value of the noncontrolling interest, which was $26 million. The Company recorded $8 million of goodwill (which is not deductible for tax purposes) and $18 million of intangible assets associated with this acquisition. The intangible assets associated with this acquisition consist primarily of finite-lived intangibles of $15 million for developed technology and customer relationships to be amortized on a straight-line basis over a period of 12 years and 10 years, respectively. In addition, an indefinite-lived trade name in the amount of $3 million was also recorded. The fair value of the significant identified intangible assets was estimated by using the market approach, income approach and cost approach valuation methodologies. Inputs used in the methodologies primarily included projected future cash flows, discounted at a rate commensurate with the risk involved.
Business Combination, Pro Forma Information, Revenue of Acquiree since Acquisition Date, Actual	3,000,000
Business Combination, Reason for Business Combination	The Company’s purpose for obtaining a controlling interest in Eris was to expand its semiconductor product offerings and to maximize its market opportunities. In addition, the Company's main interest in Eris is for its automatic manufacturing capabilities in test and assembly for various diode products. The business scope for Eris comprises Schottky Diodes, TVS Diodes, Zener Diodes, Bridge Diodes, Wafers, LEDs and the relevant devices.
Goodwill, Acquired During Period	8,000,000
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Asset, Amount	15,000,000
Acquired Finite Lived Intangible Assets Useful Life Minimum	10
Acquired Finite Lived Intangible Assets Useful Life Maximum	12
Acquired Indefinite-lived Intangible Asset, Amount	3,000,000
Business Acquisition, Effective Date of Acquisition	August 31, 2012
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest	26,000,000
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information, Description	Unaudited pro forma results of operations assuming this acquisition had taken place at the beginning of each period are not provided as this acquisition does not meet the definition of a material business combination.
Power Analog Microelectronics [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Combination, Pro Forma Information, Revenue of Acquiree since Acquisition Date, Actual	1,000,000
Business Combination, Reason for Business Combination	The Company acquired PAM as it believes PAM will strengthen its position as a global provider of high-quality analog products by expanding Diodes’ product portfolio with innovative 'filter-less' digital audio amplifiers, application-specific power management ICs, as well as high-performance LED drivers and DC-DC converters.
Goodwill, Acquired During Period	9,000,000
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Asset, Amount	6,000,000
Acquired Finite Lived Intangible Assets Useful Life Minimum	3
Acquired Finite Lived Intangible Assets Useful Life Maximum	12
Business Combination, Description	On October 29, 2012, the Company acquired Power Analog Microelectronics, Inc. (“PAM”) for $16 million, $3 million of which was held back and will be paid over the next two years subject to the satisfaction of certain terms and conditions. PAM is a provider of advanced analog and high-voltage power ICs, and its product portfolio includes Class D audio amplifiers, DC-DC converters and LED backlighting drivers. PAM was founded in Silicon Valley in 2004 and has technical and business centers in Shanghai, Shenzhen, Taipei and Tokyo.
Business Acquisition, Effective Date of Acquisition	October 29, 2012
Business Acquisition, Cost of Acquired Entity, Cash Paid	16,000,000
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information, Description	Unaudited pro forma results of operations assuming this acquisition had taken place at the beginning of each period are not provided as this acquisition does not meet the definition of a material business combination.
Business Acquisition, Preacquisition Contingency, Amount	3,000,000
BCD Semiconductor Manufacturing Limited [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Combination, Reason for Business Combination	The Company’s purpose for entering into the Merger Agreement is in line with its strategy to expand its market and growth opportunities through select strategic acquisitions. This acquisition will enhance the Company’s analog product portfolio by expanding its standard linear and power management offerings, including AC/DC and DC/DC solutions for power adapters and chargers, as well as other electronics products. BCD’s established presence in Asia with a particularly strong local market position in China offers the Company even greater penetration of the consumer, computing and communications markets. Likewise, the Company can achieve increased market penetration for BCD’s products by leveraging its global customer base and sales channels. In addition, BCD has in-house manufacturing capabilities in China, as well as a cost-effective development team that can be deployed across multiple product families. The Company will also be able to apply its packaging capabilities and expertise to BCD’s products in order to improve cost efficiencies, utilization as well as product mix.
Business Combination, Description	On December 26, 2012, the Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with BCD. Under the Merger Agreement, each ordinary share, par value $0.001 per share, of BCD (the “Shares”), including Shares represented by American Depository Shares (“ADSs”), will be cancelled in exchange for the right to receive $1.33-1/3 in cash per Share, without interest. Each ADS represents six Shares and will be converted into the right to receive $8.00 in cash, without interest. The aggregate consideration will be approximately $151 million. The acquisition is expected to be funded by a combination of the Company’s cash resources and drawings on the Company’s bank credit facilities.
Business Acquisition, Date of Acquisition Agreement	December 26, 2012
Business Acquisition, Effective Date of Acquisition	The acquisition is expected to close late in the first quarter or early in the second quarter of 2013.
Business Acquisition, Cost of Acquired Entity, Cash Paid	$ 151,000,000
Business Acquisition Acquiree Potential Penalty	BCD has agreed to pay the Company a fee of $6 million in certain circumstances, including in the event BCD’s board of directors authorizes BCD to enter into another agreement.