Document And Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Feb. 01, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2011
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2011
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Trading Symbol	efii
Entity Registrant Name	ELECTRONICS FOR IMAGING INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000867374
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		45,959,220
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Public Float			$ 657,043,599	[1]
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No

[1] Based on the last trade price of the registrant’s common stock reported on The NASDAQ Global Select Market on June 30, 2011, the last business day of the registrant’s second quarter of the 2011 fiscal year. Excludes 8,146,155 shares of common stock held by directors, executive officers and holders known to the registrant to hold 10% or more of the registrant’s outstanding common stock in that such persons may be deemed to be affiliates. This determination of executive officer or affiliate status is not necessarily a conclusive determination for other purposes. Exclusion of shares held by any person should not be construed to indicate that such person possesses the power, direct or indirect, to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of the registrant, or that such person is controlled by or under common control with the registrant.