Revenue Revenue (Details Textuals) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]
Percentage of revenue mix recognizable over time	90.00%
Revenue recognized from deferred revenue during the period	$ 142.6
Unsatisfied performance obligations	$ 2,600.0
Percent of remaining performance obligations, current	60.00%
Revenue recognized from satisfaction of performance obligations	$ 6.2
Capitalized contract costs, net	24.5
Amortization of capitalized contract costs	$ 5.2

Percentage of Revenue Mix Recognizable Over Time

No definition available.

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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percent of remaining performance obligation to be recognized in next twelve months.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	cdns_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
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- Definition

Revenue Recognized from Satisfaction of Performance Obligations

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cdns_RevenueRecognizedfromSatisfactionofPerformanceObligations
Namespace Prefix:	cdns_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of amortization expense for asset recognized from cost incurred to obtain or fulfill contract with customer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 340
-SubTopic 40
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68051541&loc=SL49131252-203054

+ Details

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Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, after accumulated amortization and accumulated impairment loss, of asset recognized from cost incurred to obtain or fulfill contract with customer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 340
-SubTopic 40
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68051541&loc=SL49131252-203054

+ Details

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Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of revenue recognized that was previously included in balance of obligation to transfer good or service to customer for which consideration from customer has been received or is due.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82913847&loc=SL49130549-203045

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 270
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1A
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84173487&loc=SL51747714-108306

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

Amount of transaction price allocated to performance obligation that has not been recognized as revenue.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 270
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1A
-Subparagraph (e)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84173487&loc=SL51747714-108306

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 606
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph (b)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82913847&loc=SL49130556-203045

+ Details

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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant