Nature of Operations, Basis of Presentation and Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements (Policies)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Nature of Operations	Nature of Operations Diodes Incorporated, together with its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company,” “we” or “our”) (Nasdaq: DIOD), is a leading global manufacturer and supplier of high-quality, application-specific standard products within the broad discrete, logic, analog and mixed-signal semiconductor markets. We serve the consumer electronics, computing, communications, industrial, and automotive markets. Our products include diodes, rectifiers, transistors, MOSFETs, protection devices, function-specific arrays, single gate logic, amplifiers and comparators, Hall-effect and temperature sensors, power management devices, including LED drivers, AC-DC converters and controllers, DC-DC switching and linear voltage regulators, and voltage references along with special function devices, such as USB power switches, load switches, voltage supervisors, and motor controllers. Our corporate headquarters and Americas’ sales office are located in Plano, Texas and Milpitas, California. Design, marketing, and engineering centers are located in Plano; Milpitas; Taipei, Taoyuan City and Zhubei City, Taiwan; Manchester, England; and Neuhaus, Germany. Our wafer fabrication facilities are located in Lee’s Summit, Missouri and Manchester, with an additional facility located in Shanghai, China. We have assembly and test facilities located in Shanghai, Jinan, Chengdu, and Yangzhou, China, as well as in Hong Kong, Neuhaus and Taipei. Additional engineering, sales, warehouse, and logistics offices are located in Taipei; Hong Kong; Manchester; Shanghai; Shenzhen, China; Seongnam-si, South Korea; and Munich, Germany, with support offices throughout the world.
Basis of Presentation	Basis of Presentation The condensed consolidated financial data at December 31, 2016 is derived from audited financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 27, 2017 (“Form 10-K”). The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q. They do not include all information and footnotes necessary for a fair presentation of financial position, operating results and cash flows in conformity with GAAP for complete financial statements. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes contained in our Form 10-K. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments and accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation of the operating results for the period presented have been included in the interim period. Operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2017 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for other interim periods or the year ending December 31, 2017. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from these estimates. As permitted under GAAP, interim accounting for certain expenses, including income taxes, are based on full year forecasts. For interim financial reporting purposes, income taxes are recorded based upon estimated annual effective income tax rates taking into consideration discrete items occurring in a quarter. Dollar amounts and share amounts are presented in thousands, except per share amounts, unless otherwise noted. Certain prior year’s balances have been reclassified to conform to the current financial statement presentation.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements	Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements The Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued the following Accounting Standards Updates (“ASU”) which could have potential impact on the Company’s financial statements: ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). This standard is based on the principle that revenue is recognized to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. This standard sets forth a five-step revenue recognition model which replaces the current revenue recognition guidance in its entirety and is intended to eliminate numerous industry-specific pieces of revenue recognition guidance. To further assist with adoption and implementation of ASU 2014-09, the FASB issued the following ASUs: •ASU 2016-08 (Issued March 2016) — Principal versus Agent Consideration (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net) •ASU 2016-10 (Issued April 2016) — Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing •ASU 2016-12 (Issued May 2016) — Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients •ASU 2016-20 (Issued December 2016) — Technical Corrections and Improvements to Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers This standard is effective in the first quarter of 2018 for public companies and requires either a full retrospective or a modified retrospective approach to adoption. We will adopt this standard using the modified retrospective method. We have established a cross-functional coordinated implementation team to implement ASU 2014-09. We are in the process of identifying and implementing changes to our systems, processes and internal controls to meet the reporting and disclosure requirements. We have engaged outside expertise to assist us in determining the effect this standard will have on our financial statements, to assist us in making necessary changes in our accounting practices and to assist us in making certain we are capturing the necessary detail to fulfill the disclosure requirements promulgated in this standard. Upon initial evaluation, we believe that the key revenue streams will be based on method of distribution. The key revenue streams identified are distribution and OEM sales which comprise the majority of our business. Based upon evaluation completed to-date, the Company believes that the pattern of revenue recognition for these revenue streams will be at a point-in-time consistent with current guidance. The Company has identified a number of variable consideration components within our contracts with customers. The Company is evaluating the impact to the current estimation processes related to the calculation of the consideration to which the entity is entitled and the related internal controls. The Company is still in the process of evaluating the remaining impacts of the standard and its effect on the Company’s financial statements and related disclosures. ASU No. 2015-11, Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory (“ASU 2015-11”). This standard requires in scope inventory to be measured at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. The amendments do not apply to inventory that is measured using LIFO or the retail inventory method. The amendments apply to all other inventory, which includes inventory that is measured using first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) or average cost. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years and requires prospective application. We adopted this standard in the first quarter of 2017. The adoption had no material impact on our financial statements. ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (“ASU 2016-02”) - In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, which amends the accounting treatment for leases. The amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Lessees (for capital and operating leases) and lessors (for sales-type, direct financing, and operating leases) must apply a modified retrospective transition approach for leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements. The modified retrospective approach would not require any transition accounting for leases that expired before the earliest comparative period presented. Lessees and lessors may not apply a full retrospective transition approach. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of ASU 2016-02 may have on its consolidated financial statements and has not elected early adoption as of the three months ended March 31, 2017. During the first quarter of 2017 we have started the process to engage accounting experts to assist us in the implementation of this new standard. ASU No. 2016-09, Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718) Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting - In March 2016, the FASB issued guidance to simplify the accounting for share-based payment transactions by requiring all excess tax benefits and deficiencies to be recognized in income tax expense or benefit in earnings, thus eliminating the requirement to classify the excess tax benefit and deficiencies as additional paid-in capital. Under the new guidance, an entity makes an accounting policy election to either estimate the expected forfeiture awards or account for forfeitures as they occur. We adopted ASU No. 2016-09 during the first quarter of 2017 and as a result will account for forfeitures as they occur. The effect of the adoption related to the income tax portion was an increase of $4.8 million to retained earnings and to deferred income tax assets. The effect of the adoption related to forfeitures was an increase to additional paid in capital of $0.8 million, an increase to deferred tax assets of $0.3 million and a decrease to retained earnings of $0.5 million.