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Investments in Privately-held Companies (Details) (USD $)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Aug. 31, 2011
EquityMethodInvestee
Summary of investments [Abstract]        
Income allocated to minority interests $ 691,000us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest $ 1,145,000us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest $ 3,040,000us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest  
Equity investments classified as other assets 14,975,000us-gaap_OtherAssetsNoncurrent 14,801,000us-gaap_OtherAssetsNoncurrent    
Beijing JiYa Semiconductor Material Co Ltd [Member]        
Summary of investments [Abstract]        
Number of employees who are also members of the board 2axti_NumberOfEmployeesAreAlsoMembersOfTheBoard
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= axti_BeijingJiyaSemiconductorMaterialCoLtdMember
     
Number of equity investment entities       1axti_NumberOfEquityInvestmentEntities
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= axti_BeijingJiyaSemiconductorMaterialCoLtdMember
Nanjing Jin Mei Gallium Co Ltd [Member]        
Summary of investments [Abstract]        
Number of employees who are also members of the board 2axti_NumberOfEmployeesAreAlsoMembersOfTheBoard
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= axti_NanjingJinMeiGalliumCoLtdMember
     
Beijing Tongmei Xtal Technology [Member]        
Summary of investments [Abstract]        
Number of equity investment entities 1axti_NumberOfEquityInvestmentEntities
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= axti_BeijingTongmeiXtalTechnologyMember
     
Beijing BoYu Semiconductor Vessel Craftwork Technology Co Ltd [Member]        
Summary of investments [Abstract]        
Number of employees who are also members of the board 2axti_NumberOfEmployeesAreAlsoMembersOfTheBoard
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= axti_BeijingBoyuSemiconductorVesselCraftworkTechnologyCoLtdMember
     
AXT, Inc [Member]        
Summary of investments [Abstract]        
Gross equity earnings (losses) from minority-owned joint ventures that are not consolidated, recorded as other income 6,765,000us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationNetIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_ParentMember
6,315,000us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationNetIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_ParentMember
5,665,000us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationNetIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_ParentMember
 
Equity Method Investments [Member]        
Summary of investments [Abstract]        
Equity Method Investment by Parent 8,095,000axti_EquityMethodInvestmentByParent
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsMember
7,537,000axti_EquityMethodInvestmentByParent
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsMember
   
Number of equity investment entities 3axti_NumberOfEquityInvestmentEntities
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsMember
3axti_NumberOfEquityInvestmentEntities
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsMember
3axti_NumberOfEquityInvestmentEntities
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsMember
 
Gross equity earnings (losses) from minority-owned joint ventures that are not consolidated, recorded as other income 569,000us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationNetIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsMember
270,000us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationNetIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsMember
379,000us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationNetIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsMember
 
Net income generated by all joint ventures, consolidated and equity method investments 2,900,000axti_NetIncomeLossFromConsolidatedJointVenturesAndEquityMethodInvesteesAttributableToParent
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsMember
2,600,000axti_NetIncomeLossFromConsolidatedJointVenturesAndEquityMethodInvesteesAttributableToParent
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsMember
4,700,000axti_NetIncomeLossFromConsolidatedJointVenturesAndEquityMethodInvesteesAttributableToParent
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsMember
 
Equity investments classified as other assets 8,100,000us-gaap_OtherAssetsNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsMember
7,500,000us-gaap_OtherAssetsNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsMember
   
Minority investment in consolidated joint venture, included in other assets 4,000,000us-gaap_MinorityInterestInJointVentures
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsMember
3,400,000us-gaap_MinorityInterestInJointVentures
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsMember
   
Joint Ventures [Member]        
Summary of investments [Abstract]        
Number of consolidated joint ventures 3axti_NumberOfConsolidatedJointVentures
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateJointVentureMember
3axti_NumberOfConsolidatedJointVentures
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateJointVentureMember
3axti_NumberOfConsolidatedJointVentures
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateJointVentureMember
 
Income from three consolidated joint ventures 3,000,000axti_IncomeLossFromConsolidatedJointVentures
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateJointVentureMember
3,500,000axti_IncomeLossFromConsolidatedJointVentures
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateJointVentureMember
7,400,000axti_IncomeLossFromConsolidatedJointVentures
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateJointVentureMember
 
Income allocated to minority interests 691,000us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateJointVentureMember
1,100,000us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateJointVentureMember
3,000,000us-gaap_NetIncomeLossAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateJointVentureMember
 
Net income from joint ventures attributable to parent 2,300,000axti_NetIncomeLossFromJointVenturesAttributableToParent
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateJointVentureMember
2,400,000axti_NetIncomeLossFromJointVenturesAttributableToParent
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateJointVentureMember
4,400,000axti_NetIncomeLossFromJointVenturesAttributableToParent
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateJointVentureMember
 
Majority-owned Subsidiaries [Member]        
Summary of investments [Abstract]        
Investments, consolidated 5,269,000axti_InvestmentsInJointVenturesConsolidated
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember
5,269,000axti_InvestmentsInJointVenturesConsolidated
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember
   
Minority Investment Entities [Member]        
Summary of investments [Abstract]        
Gross equity earnings (losses) from minority-owned joint ventures that are not consolidated, recorded as other income 1,528,000us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationNetIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AffiliatedEntityMember
1,377,000us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationNetIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AffiliatedEntityMember
1,281,000us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationNetIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AffiliatedEntityMember
 
Beijing JiYa Semiconductor Material Co., Ltd [Member] | Majority-owned Subsidiaries [Member]        
Summary of investments [Abstract]        
Investments, consolidated 3,331,000axti_InvestmentsInJointVenturesConsolidated
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= axti_BeijingJiyaSemiconductorMaterialCoLtdMember
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember
3,331,000axti_InvestmentsInJointVenturesConsolidated
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= axti_BeijingJiyaSemiconductorMaterialCoLtdMember
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember
   
Percentage of ownership, consolidated method (in hundredths) 46.00%us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityOwnershipPercentage
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= axti_BeijingJiyaSemiconductorMaterialCoLtdMember
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember
     
Nanjing Jin Mei Gallium Co., Ltd [Member] | Majority-owned Subsidiaries [Member]        
Summary of investments [Abstract]        
Investments, consolidated 592,000axti_InvestmentsInJointVenturesConsolidated
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= axti_NanjingJinMeiGalliumCoLtdMember
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember
592,000axti_InvestmentsInJointVenturesConsolidated
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= axti_NanjingJinMeiGalliumCoLtdMember
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember
   
Percentage of ownership, consolidated method (in hundredths) 83.00%us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityOwnershipPercentage
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= axti_NanjingJinMeiGalliumCoLtdMember
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember
     
Beijing BoYu Semiconductor Vessel Craftwork Technology Co., Ltd [Member] | Majority-owned Subsidiaries [Member]        
Summary of investments [Abstract]        
Investments, consolidated 1,346,000axti_InvestmentsInJointVenturesConsolidated
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= axti_BeijingBoyuSemiconductorVesselCraftworkTechnologyCoLtdMember
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember
1,346,000axti_InvestmentsInJointVenturesConsolidated
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= axti_BeijingBoyuSemiconductorVesselCraftworkTechnologyCoLtdMember
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember
   
Percentage of ownership, consolidated method (in hundredths) 70.00%us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityOwnershipPercentage
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= axti_BeijingBoyuSemiconductorVesselCraftworkTechnologyCoLtdMember
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_SubsidiariesMember
     
Xilingol Tongli Germanium Co. Ltd [Member] | Equity Method Investments [Member]        
Summary of investments [Abstract]        
Equity Method Investment by Parent 5,351,000axti_EquityMethodInvestmentByParent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= axti_XilingolTongliGermaniumCoLtdMember
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsMember
4,692,000axti_EquityMethodInvestmentByParent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= axti_XilingolTongliGermaniumCoLtdMember
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsMember
   
Percentage of ownership, equity method (in hundredths) 25.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= axti_XilingolTongliGermaniumCoLtdMember
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsMember
     
Donghai County Dongfang High Purity Electronic Materials Co., Ltd [Member] | Equity Method Investments [Member]        
Summary of investments [Abstract]        
Equity Method Investment by Parent 1,723,000axti_EquityMethodInvestmentByParent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= axti_DonghaiCountyDongfangHighPurityElectronicMaterialsCoLtdMember
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsMember
1,900,000axti_EquityMethodInvestmentByParent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= axti_DonghaiCountyDongfangHighPurityElectronicMaterialsCoLtdMember
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsMember
   
Percentage of ownership, equity method (in hundredths) 46.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= axti_DonghaiCountyDongfangHighPurityElectronicMaterialsCoLtdMember
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsMember
     
Emeishan Jia Mei High Purity Metals Co., Ltd [Member] | Equity Method Investments [Member]        
Summary of investments [Abstract]        
Equity Method Investment by Parent $ 1,021,000axti_EquityMethodInvestmentByParent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= axti_EmeishanJiaMeiHighPurityMetalsCoLtdMember
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsMember
$ 945,000axti_EquityMethodInvestmentByParent
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= axti_EmeishanJiaMeiHighPurityMetalsCoLtdMember
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsMember
   
Percentage of ownership, equity method (in hundredths) 25.00%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= axti_EmeishanJiaMeiHighPurityMetalsCoLtdMember
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsMember