It represents market price per share of american depositary shares underlying restricted stock units granted

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It represents the description of nonvested shares issued to employees.

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No definition available.

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It represents ordinary price per share on date of grant.

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No definition available.

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It represents the description of percentage of ratio to offset loss.

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No definition available.

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- Definition

It represents the stock option exercise price per share.

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No definition available.

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It represents unvested ordinary share exchange rate.

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No definition available.

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- Definition

Represents the expense recognized during the period arising from equity-based compensation arrangements (for example, shares of stock, unit, stock options or other equity instruments) with employees, directors and certain consultants qualifying for treatment as employees.

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Amount per share or per unit assigned to the consideration received of equity securities issued for development stage entities.

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Percentage of vesting of share-based compensation awards.

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The number of grants made during the period on other than stock (or unit) option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, performance target plan).

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The number of non-vested equity-based payment instruments, excluding stock (or unit) options, that validly exist and are outstanding as of the balance sheet date.

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- Definition

The weighted average fair value of nonvested awards on equity-based plans excluding option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, revenue or profit achievement stock award plan) for which the employer is contingently obligated to issue equity instruments or transfer assets to an employee who has not yet satisfied service or performance criteria necessary to gain title to proceeds from the sale of the award or underlying shares or units.

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Fair value of share-based awards for which the grantee gained the right by satisfying service and performance requirements, to receive or retain shares or units, other instruments, or cash.

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Expected term of share-based compensation awards, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

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The maximum number of shares (or other type of equity) originally approved (usually by shareholders and board of directors), net of any subsequent amendments and adjustments, for awards under the equity-based compensation plan. As stock or unit options and equity instruments other than options are awarded to participants, the shares or units remain authorized and become reserved for issuance under outstanding awards (not necessarily vested).

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Share-Based Compensation (Details Textual) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended							12 Months Ended												12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended					12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 TWD	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011 Himax Imaging Ltd [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Imaging Cayman [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 Employee Stock Option [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Employee Stock Option [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2007 Stock Options 2007 Plan [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2007 Stock Options 2007 Plan [Member] TWD	Dec. 31, 2014 Stock Options 2007 Plan [Member] ROC Central Government Bond [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Stock Options 2009 Plan [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Stock Options 2009 Plan [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Stock Options 2009 Plan [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Stock Options 2009 Plan [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2009 Stock Options 2009 Plan [Member] TWD	Oct. 31, 2009 Stock Options 2009 Plan [Member]	Dec. 31, 2014 Stock Options 2009 Plan [Member] ROC Central Government Bond [Member]	Dec. 31, 2014 Stock Options 2012 Plan [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 Stock Options 2012 Plan [Member] TWD	Jul. 02, 2012 Stock Options 2012 Plan [Member]	Dec. 31, 2014 Stock Options 2012 Plan [Member] One And Half Years After Grant Date [Member]	Dec. 31, 2014 Stock Options 2012 Plan [Member] Three Years After Grant Date [Member]	Dec. 31, 2014 Stock Options 2013 Plan [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 Stock Options 2013 Plan [Member] TWD	Jul. 01, 2013 Stock Options 2013 Plan [Member]	Dec. 31, 2014 Stock Options 2013 Plan [Member] Half Years After Grant Date [Member]	Dec. 31, 2014 Stock Options 2013 Plan [Member] Two Years After Grant Date [Member]	Dec. 31, 2014 Restricted Stock Units (Rsus) [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 Restricted Stock Units (Rsus) [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Restricted Stock Units (Rsus) [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Restricted Stock Units (Rsus) [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 Restricted Stock Units (Rsus) [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2009 Restricted Stock Units (Rsus) [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 Restricted Stock Units (Rsus) [Member] Long-term Incentive Plan grants 1 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Restricted Stock Units (Rsus) [Member] Long-term Incentive Plan grants 1 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Restricted Stock Units (Rsus) [Member] Long-term Incentive Plan grants 1 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Restricted Stock Units (Rsus) [Member] Long-term Incentive Plan grants 1 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Restricted Stock Units (Rsus) [Member] Long-term Incentive Plan grants 2 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Restricted Stock Units (Rsus) [Member] Long-term Incentive Plan grants 2 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Restricted Stock Units (Rsus) [Member] Long-term Incentive Plan grants 2 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Restricted Stock Units (Rsus) [Member] Long-term Incentive Plan grants 2 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2014 Restricted Stock Units (Rsus) [Member] Long-term Incentive Plan grants 3 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Restricted Stock Units (Rsus) [Member] Long-term Incentive Plan grants 3 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Restricted Stock Units (Rsus) [Member] Long-term Incentive Plan grants 3 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Restricted Stock Units (Rsus) [Member] Long-term Incentive Plan grants 3 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2015 Restricted Stock Units (Rsus) [Member] Subsequent Event [Member] Long-term Incentive Plan grants 4 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2014 Restricted Stock Units (Rsus) [Member] Subsequent Event [Member] Long-term Incentive Plan grants 4 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Restricted Stock Units (Rsus) [Member] Subsequent Event [Member] Long-term Incentive Plan grants 4 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Restricted Stock Units (Rsus) [Member] Subsequent Event [Member] Long-term Incentive Plan grants 4 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2016 Restricted Stock Units (Rsus) [Member] Subsequent Event [Member] Long-term Incentive Plan grants 5 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2015 Restricted Stock Units (Rsus) [Member] Subsequent Event [Member] Long-term Incentive Plan grants 5 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2014 Restricted Stock Units (Rsus) [Member] Subsequent Event [Member] Long-term Incentive Plan grants 5 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Restricted Stock Units (Rsus) [Member] Subsequent Event [Member] Long-term Incentive Plan grants 5 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2017 Restricted Stock Units (Rsus) [Member] Subsequent Event [Member] Long-term Incentive Plan grants 6 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2016 Restricted Stock Units (Rsus) [Member] Subsequent Event [Member] Long-term Incentive Plan grants 6 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2015 Restricted Stock Units (Rsus) [Member] Subsequent Event [Member] Long-term Incentive Plan grants 6 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2014 Restricted Stock Units (Rsus) [Member] Subsequent Event [Member] Long-term Incentive Plan grants 6 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Capital Reduction Plan [Member] USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 Capital Reduction Plan [Member] TWD
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement By Share-Based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other Than Options, Grants In Period	1,219,791	867,771	5,522,279																												1,219,791	867,771	5,522,279	2,727,278	3,488,952	3,577,686
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Vesting Percentage														25.00%	25.00%	50.00%								50.00%	50.00%				50.00%	50.00%							14.68%	14.68%	14.68%	55.96%	10.63%	10.63%	10.63%	68.11%	0.88%	0.88%	0.88%	97.36%	13.88%	13.88%	13.88%	58.36%	3.70%	3.70%	3.70%	88.90%	5.81%	5.81%	5.81%	82.57%
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Vested in Period, Total Fair Value																															$ 9,337	$ 7,833	$ 6,286	$ 2,873	$ 5,870	$ 6,508
Market Price Per Share Of American Depositary Shares Underlying Restricted Stock Units Granted																															$ 9.27	$ 10.15	$ 1.95	$ 1.1	$ 2.47	$ 3.25
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement By Share-Based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other Than Options, Nonvested, Number	964,006	1,511,223	2,637,455	1,172,388	1,172,388		1,939,490
Nonvested Shares Issued To Employees Description				During 2011, Imaging Cayman granted non-vested shares of Imaging Taiwans ordinary shares to certain employees for their future service, and the employees must pay NT$30 ($1.03) per share	During 2011, Imaging Cayman granted non-vested shares of Imaging Taiwans ordinary shares to certain employees for their future service, and the employees must pay NT$30 ($1.03) per share	From September 2007 to December 2010, Himax Imaging Inc. (Imaging Cayman, a consolidated subsidiary) granted non-vested shares of its ordinary shares to certain employees for their future service, and the employees must pay $0.15 or $0.3 (employees hired after March 1, 2009) per share
Unvested Ordinary Share Exchange Rate								$ 0.36274
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense	$ 11,266	$ 9,673	$ 8,222						$ 11	$ 13																					$ 11,266	$ 9,653	$ 8,195
Ordinary Price Per Share On Date Of Grant				$ 0.72himx_OrdinaryPricePerShareOnDateOfGrant	21himx_OrdinaryPricePerShareOnDateOfGrant
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Authorized											6,800,000	6,800,000							2,300,000				2,000,000					430,000
Equity Issuance, Per Share Amount				$ 1.856us-gaap_EquityIssuancePerShareAmount	60us-gaap_EquityIssuancePerShareAmount						$ 0.464	15					$ 0.311	10																																											$ 1.244	40
Percentage Of Ratio To Offset Loss				75.00%himx_PercentageOfRatioToOffsetLoss	75.00%himx_PercentageOfRatioToOffsetLoss
Expected term (years)													10 years							5 years
Share-Based Compensation Arrangement By Share-Based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other Than Options, Nonvested, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value	$ 4.11	$ 2.47	$ 1.99	$ 2.68							$ 0.672	21.6608					$ 0.160	5.2
Stock Option Exercise Price Per Share																					$ 1.004	30				$ 1	30