NET INCOME PER SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO ATMEL COMMON STOCKHOLDERS - Schedule of Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income attributable to Atmel	$ 6,312	$ 19,236	$ 22,807	$ 21,402
Weighted-average shares - basic (in shares)	417,861	421,090	417,474	423,233
Dilutive effect of incremental shares and share equivalents (in shares)	1,297	1,744	1,310	1,643
Weighted-average shares - diluted (in shares)	419,158	422,834	418,784	424,876
Basic
Net income per share attributable to Atmel common stockholders - basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.02	$ 0.05	$ 0.05	$ 0.05
Diluted
Net income per share attributable to Atmel common stockholders - diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.02	$ 0.05	$ 0.05	$ 0.05