v2.4.0.8

Derivative Financial Instruments (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Sep. 29, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2012 | Sep. 29, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2012
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Gain (Loss) on Cash Flow Hedge Ineffectiveness, Net | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0
Foreign Currency Forward Contracts [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Derivative, Term of Contract ( in months) |  |  | 6 months |
Foreign Currency Forward Contracts [Member] | Cash Flow Hedges [Member] |  |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Approximate number of derivatives per quarter (in derivatives) | 5 |  | 5 |
Cash flow hedge | 7,000,000 |  | 7,000,000 |
Number of months taken by the company to reclass the amounts recorded in other comprehensive income to earnings (in months) |  |  | 12 months |
Hedge period of forecasted hedge transaction (in days) |  |  | 60 days |
Derivatives Designated As Hedging Instruments [Member] | Cash Flow Hedges [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Derivative, Term of Contract ( in months) |  |  | 3 months |
Derivatives Designated As Hedging Instruments [Member] | Cash Flow Hedges [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Derivative, Term of Contract ( in months) |  |  | 5 months |
Derivatives Not Designated As Hedging Instruments [Member] | Foreign Currency Forward Contracts [Member] |  |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Approximate number of derivatives per quarter (in derivatives) | 13 |  | 13 |
Cash flow hedge | $ 2,000,000 |  | $ 2,000,000 |
Derivatives Not Designated As Hedging Instruments [Member] | Foreign Currency Forward Contracts [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Derivative, Term of Contract ( in months) |  |  | 1 month |
Derivatives Not Designated As Hedging Instruments [Member] | Foreign Currency Forward Contracts [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |
Derivative [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Derivative, Term of Contract ( in months) |  |  | 5 months |

X
- Definition Aggregate notional amount specified by the derivative(s). Expressed as an absolute value. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Article 12 -Section 13 -Sentence Column B + Details
Name: | invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
Namespace Prefix: | invest_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Maximum number of days after hedge period allowed before de-designation + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ntgr_MaximumNumberOfDaysAfterHedgePeriodAllowedBeforeDeDesignation
Namespace Prefix: | ntgr_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number Of Months Taken By The Company To Reclass The Amounts Recorded In Other Comprehensive Income To Earnings + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ntgr_NumberOfMonthsTakenByCompanyToReclassAmountsRecordedInOtherComprehensiveIncomeToEarnings
Namespace Prefix: | ntgr_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
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Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The number of derivative instruments of a particular group held by the entity. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1B -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=SL5580258-113959 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1A -Subparagraph (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=SL5579245-113959 + Details
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Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
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Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Period the derivative contract is outstanding, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The net gain (loss) recognized in earnings during the reporting period representing the amount of the cash flow hedges' ineffectiveness. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4C -Subparagraph (d)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=SL5624171-113959 + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration