Amortization of debt issuance costs

No definition available.

Name:	pdli_AmortizationOfDebtIssuanceCosts
Namespace Prefix:	pdli_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of counterparties that are part of a contractual agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	pdli_NumberOfHedgeCounterparties
Namespace Prefix:	pdli_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of shares of common stock covered by the purchased call option.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	pdli_NumberOfSharesOfCommonStockCoveredByPurchasedCallOptionsPurchased
Namespace Prefix:	pdli_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Cost of the purchased call options.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	pdli_PurchasedCallOptionsCost
Namespace Prefix:	pdli_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of noncash expense included in interest expense to amortize debt discount and premium associated with the related debt instruments. Excludes amortization of financing costs. Alternate captions include noncash interest expense.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1A

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28541-108399

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.8)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 8

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AmortizationOfDebtDiscountPremium
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of the cost of borrowed funds accounted for as interest expense for debt.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.8)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 8

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InterestExpenseDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the portion of interest incurred in the period on debt arrangements that was charged against earnings, excluding amortization of debt discount (premium) and financing costs.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 8

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InterestExpenseDebtExcludingAmortization
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=pdli_February2018NotePurchaseCallOptionMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=pdli_February2018NotesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Convertible Notes Convertible Notes (Interest Expense for the February 2018 Notes) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data in Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Feb. 11, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amortization of Debt Discount (Premium)	$ 14,154	$ 11,159
Purchased call options cost	(30,951)pdli_PurchasedCallOptionsCost	0pdli_PurchasedCallOptionsCost	0pdli_PurchasedCallOptionsCost
February 2018 Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Expense, Debt, Excluding Amortization	10,633
Amortization of debt issuance costs	1,898
Amortization of Debt Discount (Premium)	5,954	0
Total	(18,485)
February 2018 Note Purchase Call Option [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Number of hedge counterparties (in Counterparties)					2
Purchased call options cost				$ 31,000
Number of shares of common stock covered by the purchased call options purchased (in Shares)	32.7