Financial Assets and Liabilities Measured and Reported at Fair Value on Recurring Basis (Detail) (Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring, USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Sep. 30, 2011
Assets:
Foreign currency forward exchange contracts	$ 19,868	[1]	$ 31,896	[1]	$ 25,301	[1]
Auction rate securities	13,656	[2]	15,630	[2]	21,000	[2]
Total assets	33,524		47,526		46,301
Liabilities:
Foreign currency forward exchange contracts	11,743	[1]	4,312	[1]	10,954	[1]
Level 2
Assets:
Foreign currency forward exchange contracts	19,868	[1]	31,896	[1]	25,301	[1]
Total assets	19,868		31,896		25,301
Liabilities:
Foreign currency forward exchange contracts	11,743	[1]	4,312	[1]	10,954	[1]
Level 3
Assets:
Auction rate securities	13,656	[2]	15,630	[2]	21,000	[2]
Total assets	$ 13,656		$ 15,630		$ 21,000

[1] The fair value of the foreign currency forward exchange contracts is based on dealer quotes of market forward rates and reflects the amount that Mattel would receive or pay at their maturity dates for contracts involving the same notional amounts, currencies, and maturity dates.

[2] The fair value of the auction rate securities is estimated using a discounted cash flow model based on (i) estimated interest rates, timing, and amount of cash flows, (ii) credit spreads, recovery rates, and credit quality of the underlying securities, (iii) illiquidity considerations, and (iv) market correlation.