Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Jan. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	ATMEL CORP
Entity Central Index Key	0000872448
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 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 Public Float			$ 3,795,226,084
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		416,250,419	418,489,825
Entity Well Known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Document Fiscal Focus	2014
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY