Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Feb. 04, 2017	Jul. 02, 2016
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	CADENCE DESIGN SYSTEMS INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000813672
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2016
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float			$ 7,127,225,000
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		278,769,000