Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Feb. 23, 2012	Jul. 02, 2011
Document and Entity Information
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2011
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2011
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Trading Symbol	TQNT
Entity Registrant Name	TRIQUINT SEMICONDUCTOR INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000913885
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Public Float			$ 1,302,950,575
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		166,242,112