Note 10 - Common Stock Repurchases (Details) - Stock Repurchase Activities (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended	2 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
Apr. 27, 2014	Feb. 23, 2014	Jan. 26, 2014	Dec. 29, 2013	Oct. 27, 2013	Sep. 29, 2013	Sep. 28, 2014	Dec. 28, 2014	Mar. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Stock Repurchase Activities [Abstract]
Balances, Total number of Shares Purchased								11,110exar_NumberOfStockRepurchasedAndRetired	10,319exar_NumberOfStockRepurchasedAndRetired	9,564exar_NumberOfStockRepurchasedAndRetired
Balances, Average Price Paid Per Share (or Unit)								$ 9.47	$ 9.22	$ 9.22
Balances, Amount Paid for Purchase								$ 105,188	$ 97,189	$ 88,189
Repurchases, Total number of Shares Purchased	273	324	122	83	73	153	393	125
Repurchases, Average Price Paid Per Share (or Unit)	$ 10.98exar_AverageCostPerShare	$ 11.05exar_AverageCostPerShare	$ 11.61exar_AverageCostPerShare	$ 12.09exar_AverageCostPerShare	$ 13.63exar_AverageCostPerShare	$ 13.07exar_AverageCostPerShare	$ 9.83exar_AverageCostPerShare	$ 9.08exar_AverageCostPerShare
Repurchases, Amount Paid for Purchase	$ 3,000	$ 3,583	$ 1,417	$ 1,000	$ 1,001	$ 1,999	$ 3,864	$ 1,135

The average cost per share of shares repurchased during the period.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Number of stock repurchased and retired as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Details

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- Definition

The average price per share for the stock repurchased and retired as of the period end.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	exar_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Stock repurchased and retired balance value as of balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	exar_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of shares that have been repurchased and retired during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Article 3

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21463-112644

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 29, 30

-Article 5

+ Details

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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Equity impact of the value of stock that has been repurchased and retired during the period. The excess of the purchase price over par value can be charged against retained earnings (once the excess is fully allocated to additional paid in capital).

+ References

+ Details

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