LEGAL PROCEEDINGS	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS	LEGAL PROCEEDINGS The Company has been in the past, and continues to be, a party to litigation, including actions with respect to intellectual property, employment, and contractual matters. Litigation has consumed, and may continue to consume, substantial financial and managerial resources. The Company could incur substantial costs and divert attention of management and technical personnel in defending against litigation, and any adverse ruling or perception of an adverse ruling could have a material adverse impact on the Company's stock price. In addition, any adverse ruling could have a material adverse impact on the Company's cash flows and financial condition. In connection with litigation matters, the Company assesses, on a regular basis, the probability and range of possible loss based on the developments in these matters. A liability is recorded in the financial statements if it is believed to be probable that a loss has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. Because litigation is inherently unpredictable and unfavorable results could occur, assessing contingencies is highly subjective and requires judgments about future events. The Company regularly reviews outstanding legal matters to determine the adequacy of the liabilities accrued and related disclosures. The amount of ultimate loss may differ from these estimates. Each matter presents its own unique circumstances, and prior litigation does not necessarily provide a reliable basis on which to predict the outcome, or range of outcomes, in any individual proceeding. Because of the uncertainties related to the occurrence, amount, and range of loss on any pending litigation or claim, the Company is currently unable to predict their ultimate outcome, and has not accrued any liability with respect to any pending litigation. E8 Pharmaceuticals LLC On July 1, 2008, the Company was named as a defendant in a complaint filed by plaintiffs E8 Pharmaceuticals LLC and Massachusetts Institute of Technology ("MIT") in the United States District Court of Massachusetts. In the complaint, the plaintiffs allege that the Company is infringing one patent owned by MIT and licensed to E8 Pharmaceuticals by making and selling the Company's GeneChip® products to customers and teaching its customers how to use the products. The plaintiffs seek a permanent injunction enjoining the Company from further infringement, unspecified monetary damages, enhanced damages pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §284, costs, attorneys' fees and other relief as the court deems just and proper. On September 4, 2012, the District Court issued its ruling construing key claims of the patent at issue. The parties thereafter stipulated to the dismissal of plaintiff's claims. The plaintiffs subsequently appealed the District Court's ruling and in November 2013 the United States Court of Appeals for Federal Circuit affirmed the District Court's decision. Enzo Litigation Southern District of New York Case: On October 28, 2003, Enzo Life Sciences, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Enzo Biochem, Inc. (collectively "Enzo"), filed a complaint against the Company that is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York for breach of contract, injunctive relief and declaratory judgment. The Enzo complaint relates to a 1998 distributorship agreement with Enzo under which the Company served as a non-exclusive distributor of certain reagent labeling kits supplied by Enzo. In its complaint, Enzo seeks monetary damages and an injunction against the Company from using, manufacturing or selling Enzo products and from inducing collaborators and customers to use Enzo products in violation of the 1998 agreement. Enzo also seeks the transfer of certain Affymetrix patents to Enzo. On September 24, 2012, the Court granted summary judgment to the Company with respect to the single infringement claim asserted by Enzo against the Company. On December 9, 2013, the Court granted-in-part and denied-in-part the Company's motion for summary judgment on Enzo's non-patent claims. The Court has set a trial on the remaining claims in this lawsuit for May 12, 2014. On November 10, 2003, the Company filed a complaint against Enzo in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York for declaratory judgment, breach of contract and injunctive relief relating to the 1998 agreement. In its complaint, the Company alleges that Enzo has engaged in a pattern of wrongful conduct against it and other Enzo labeling reagent customers by, among other things, asserting improperly broad rights in its patent portfolio, improperly using the 1998 agreement and distributorship agreements with others in order to corner the market for non-radioactive labeling reagents, and improperly using the 1998 agreement to claim ownership rights to the Company's proprietary technology. The Company expects that its claims in this lawsuit against Enzo will be consolidated for trial with the Enzo lawsuit that is scheduled for May 12, 2014. Delaware Case: On April 6, 2012, Enzo filed a complaint against the Company in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. In the complaint, plaintiff alleges that Affymetrix is infringing U.S. Patent No. 7,064,197 by making and selling certain GeneChip® products. The plaintiff seeks a preliminary and permanent injunction enjoining the Company from further infringement and unspecified monetary damages. The Company will vigorously defend against the plaintiff's case. No trial date is set for this action. Administrative Proceedings The Company's intellectual property is subject to a number of significant administrative actions. These proceedings could result in the Company's patent protection being significantly modified or reduced, and the incurrence of significant costs and the consumption of substantial managerial resources. For the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011, the Company did not incur significant costs in connection with administrative proceedings.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

The Company has been in the past, and continues to be, a party to litigation, including actions with respect to intellectual property, employment, and contractual matters. Litigation has consumed, and may continue to consume, substantial financial and managerial resources. The Company could incur substantial costs and divert attention of management and technical personnel in defending against litigation, and any adverse ruling or perception of an adverse ruling could have a material adverse impact on the Company's stock price. In addition, any adverse ruling could have a material adverse impact on the Company's cash flows and financial condition.

In connection with litigation matters, the Company assesses, on a regular basis, the probability and range of possible loss based on the developments in these matters. A liability is recorded in the financial statements if it is believed to be probable that a loss has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. Because litigation is inherently unpredictable and unfavorable results could occur, assessing contingencies is highly subjective and requires judgments about future events. The Company regularly reviews outstanding legal matters to determine the adequacy of the liabilities accrued and related disclosures. The amount of ultimate loss may differ from these estimates. Each matter presents its own unique circumstances, and prior litigation does not necessarily provide a reliable basis on which to predict the outcome, or range of outcomes, in any individual proceeding. Because of the uncertainties related to the occurrence, amount, and range of loss on any pending litigation or claim, the Company is currently unable to predict their ultimate outcome, and has not accrued any liability with respect to any pending litigation.

E8 Pharmaceuticals LLC

On July 1, 2008, the Company was named as a defendant in a complaint filed by plaintiffs E8 Pharmaceuticals LLC and Massachusetts Institute of Technology ("MIT") in the United States District Court of Massachusetts. In the complaint, the plaintiffs allege that the Company is infringing one patent owned by MIT and licensed to E8 Pharmaceuticals by making and selling the Company's GeneChip® products to customers and teaching its customers how to use the products. The plaintiffs seek a permanent injunction enjoining the Company from further infringement, unspecified monetary damages, enhanced damages pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §284, costs, attorneys' fees and other relief as the court deems just and proper. On September 4, 2012, the District Court issued its ruling construing key claims of the patent at issue. The parties thereafter stipulated to the dismissal of plaintiff's claims. The plaintiffs subsequently appealed the District Court's ruling and in November 2013 the United States Court of Appeals for Federal Circuit affirmed the District Court's decision.

Enzo Litigation

Southern District of New York Case: On October 28, 2003, Enzo Life Sciences, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Enzo Biochem, Inc. (collectively "Enzo"), filed a complaint against the Company that is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York for breach of contract, injunctive relief and declaratory judgment. The Enzo complaint relates to a 1998 distributorship agreement with Enzo under which the Company served as a non-exclusive distributor of certain reagent labeling kits supplied by Enzo. In its complaint, Enzo seeks monetary damages and an injunction against the Company from using, manufacturing or selling Enzo products and from inducing collaborators and customers to use Enzo products in violation of the 1998 agreement. Enzo also seeks the transfer of certain Affymetrix patents to Enzo. On September 24, 2012, the Court granted summary judgment to the Company with respect to the single infringement claim asserted by Enzo against the Company. On December 9, 2013, the Court granted-in-part and denied-in-part the Company's motion for summary judgment on Enzo's non-patent claims. The Court has set a trial on the remaining claims in this lawsuit for May 12, 2014.

On November 10, 2003, the Company filed a complaint against Enzo in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York for declaratory judgment, breach of contract and injunctive relief relating to the 1998 agreement. In its complaint, the Company alleges that Enzo has engaged in a pattern of wrongful conduct against it and other Enzo labeling reagent customers by, among other things, asserting improperly broad rights in its patent portfolio, improperly using the 1998 agreement and distributorship agreements with others in order to corner the market for non-radioactive labeling reagents, and improperly using the 1998 agreement to claim ownership rights to the Company's proprietary technology. The Company expects that its claims in this lawsuit against Enzo will be consolidated for trial with the Enzo lawsuit that is scheduled for May 12, 2014.

Delaware Case: On April 6, 2012, Enzo filed a complaint against the Company in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. In the complaint, plaintiff alleges that Affymetrix is infringing U.S. Patent No. 7,064,197 by making and selling certain GeneChip® products. The plaintiff seeks a preliminary and permanent injunction enjoining the Company from further infringement and unspecified monetary damages. The Company will vigorously defend against the plaintiff's case. No trial date is set for this action.

Administrative Proceedings

The Company's intellectual property is subject to a number of significant administrative actions. These proceedings could result in the Company's patent protection being significantly modified or reduced, and the incurrence of significant costs and the consumption of substantial managerial resources. For the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011, the Company did not incur significant costs in connection with administrative proceedings.