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		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net (loss) income attributable to Atmel	$ (614)	$ 17,250	$ 22,193	$ 38,652
Weighted-average shares - basic (in shares)	419,293	418,954	418,072	421,791
Dilutive effect of incremental shares and share equivalents (in shares)	0	2,010	1,410	1,909
Weighted-average shares - diluted (in shares)	419,293	420,964	419,482	423,700
Basic
Net income per share attributable to Atmel common stockholders - basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00	$ 0.04	$ 0.05	$ 0.09
Diluted
Net income per share attributable to Atmel common stockholders - diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00	$ 0.04	$ 0.05	$ 0.09