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Investments in Privately Held Companies (Details)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($) employee item entity	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Summary of investments [Abstract]
Income allocated to minority interests	$ (109,000)	$ 125,000
Equity investments classified as other assets	13,544,000		$ 14,114,000
Investments in unconsolidated privately-held entities, included in other assets	$ 3
Joint Ventures [Member]
Summary of investments [Abstract]
Number of consolidated joint ventures | item	3
Income from three consolidated joint ventures	$ (175,000)	552,000
Income allocated to minority interests	109,000	(125,000)
Net income from joint ventures attributable to parent	(66,000)	427,000
Minority investment in consolidated joint venture, included in other assets	3,900,000		4,100,000
AXT, Inc. Stockholders' Equity
Summary of investments [Abstract]
Gross equity earnings from minority-owned joint ventures that are not consolidated, recorded as other income	(1,774,000)	957,000
Equity Method Investments [Member]
Summary of investments [Abstract]
Equity method investment by parent	7,726,000		7,948,000
Equity investments classified as other assets	7,700,000		7,900,000
Gross equity earnings from minority-owned joint ventures that are not consolidated, recorded as other income	$ (456,000)	$ 200,000
Minority investments not consolidated accounted for under equity method | entity	7
Equity Method Investments [Member] | Joint Ventures [Member]
Summary of investments [Abstract]
Minority investments | entity	4
Beijing JiYa Semiconductor Material Co., Ltd [Member]
Summary of investments [Abstract]
Investments, consolidated	$ 3,331,000		3,331,000
Percentage of ownership, consolidated method (in hundredths)	46.00%
Employee duration	27 years
Number of persons on board | employee	1
Beijing JiYa Semiconductor Material Co., Ltd [Member] | Equity Method Investments [Member] | Joint Ventures [Member]
Summary of investments [Abstract]
Minority investments | entity	3
Nanjing Jin Mei Gallium Co., Ltd [Member]
Summary of investments [Abstract]
Investments, consolidated	$ 592,000		592,000
Percentage of ownership, consolidated method (in hundredths)	83.00%
Number of new board representatives | employee	2
Beijing BoYu Semiconductor Vessel Craftwork Technology Co., Ltd [Member]
Summary of investments [Abstract]
Investments, consolidated	$ 1,346,000		1,346,000
Percentage of ownership, consolidated method (in hundredths)	70.00%
Number of new board representatives | employee	2
Donghai County Dongfang High Purity Electronic Materials Co., Ltd [Member] | Equity Method Investments [Member]
Summary of investments [Abstract]
Equity method investment by parent	$ 1,524,000		1,524,000
Percentage of ownership, equity method (in hundredths)	46.00%
Xilingol Tongli Germanium Co. Ltd [Member] | Equity Method Investments [Member]
Summary of investments [Abstract]
Equity method investment by parent	$ 5,154,000		5,343,000
Percentage of ownership, equity method (in hundredths)	25.00%
Emeishan Jia Mei High Purity Metals Co., Ltd [Member] | Equity Method Investments [Member]
Summary of investments [Abstract]
Equity method investment by parent	$ 1,048,000		1,081,000
Percentage of ownership, equity method (in hundredths)	25.00%
Jinmei [Member] | Equity Method Investments [Member] | Joint Ventures [Member]
Summary of investments [Abstract]
Minority investments | entity	1
Majority-Owned Subsidiaries [Member]
Summary of investments [Abstract]
Investments, consolidated	$ 5,269,000		$ 5,269,000

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