Document and Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Apr. 30, 2014
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	ATMEL CORP
Entity Central Index Key	0000872448
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2014
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		420,957,920
Entity Well Known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Document Fiscal Focus	2014
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1