Shelf Registration Statement (Details Textual) - USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2017	Jun. 03, 2014
Stock Offering (Textual) [Abstract]
Aggregate value of securities permitted for issuance (up to $125 million)	$ 115,000,000	$ 125,000,000

Value of Securities Permitted For Issuance Under Shelf Registration

No definition available.

Name:	mxwl_ValueofSecuritiesPermittedForIssuanceUnderShelfRegistration
Namespace Prefix:	mxwl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant