COVER PAGE - shares	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jul. 31, 2020
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2020
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	000-19756
Entity Registrant Name	PDL BIOPHARMA, INC.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	94-3023969
Entity Address, Address Line One	932 Southwood Boulevard
Entity Address, City or Town	Incline Village,
Entity Address, State or Province	NV
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	89451
City Area Code	775
Local Phone Number	832-8500
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
Trading Symbol	PDLI
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		113,982,229
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Entity Central Index Key	0000882104
Amendment Flag	false