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Investments in Privately Held Companies (Details)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
USD ($)
employee
subsidiary
company
entity
item
Dec. 31, 2015
USD ($)
entity
item
Dec. 31, 2014
USD ($)
entity
item
Summary of investments [Abstract]      
Investments in privately-held companies $ 6,599,000 $ 7,948,000  
Number of consolidated joint ventures | subsidiary 3    
Income allocated to minority interests $ (670,000) (305,000) $ 691,000
Equity investments classified as other assets 12,842,000 15,729,000  
Gross equity earnings from minority-owned joint ventures that are not consolidated, recorded as other income (1,200,000) (43,000) 569,000
Net income generated by all joint ventures, consolidated and equity method investments (400,000) 1,100,000 2,900,000
Investments in unconsolidated privately-held entities, included in other assets 0    
Net income $ (1,200,000) $ (43,000) $ 569,000
Minority investments not consolidated accounted for under equity method | company 7    
Direct investments | item 6    
Indirect investments | item 4    
Joint Ventures [Member]      
Summary of investments [Abstract]      
Number of consolidated joint ventures | item 3 3 3
Income from three consolidated joint ventures $ 100,000 $ 800,000 $ 3,000,000
Income allocated to minority interests (700,000) (300,000) 700,000
Net income from joint ventures attributable to parent 800,000 1,200,000 2,300,000
Other Assets [Member]      
Summary of investments [Abstract]      
Investments in privately-held companies 11,300,000 13,700,000  
Investments in unconsolidated privately-held entities, included in other assets 0 0 200,000
Other Assets [Member] | Joint Ventures [Member]      
Summary of investments [Abstract]      
Minority investment in consolidated joint venture, included in other assets 4,700,000 5,800,000  
AXT, Inc. Stockholders' Equity      
Summary of investments [Abstract]      
Gross equity earnings from minority-owned joint ventures that are not consolidated, recorded as other income (1,995,000) 462,000 1,528,000
Net income (1,995,000) 462,000 1,528,000
Beijing JiYa Semiconductor Material Co., Ltd Investment      
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    
Nanjing Jin Mei Gallium Co., Ltd Investment      
Summary of investments [Abstract]      
Investments, consolidated $ 592,000 592,000  
Percentage of ownership, consolidated method (in hundredths) 83.00%    
Beijing BoYu Semiconductor Vessel Craftwork Technology Co., Ltd Investment      
Summary of investments [Abstract]      
Investments, consolidated $ 1,346,000 1,346,000  
Percentage of ownership, consolidated method (in hundredths) 70.00%    
Donghai County Dongfang High Purity Electronic Materials Co., Ltd Investment      
Summary of investments [Abstract]      
Investments in privately-held companies $ 1,498,000 1,524,000  
Percentage of ownership, equity method (in hundredths) 46.00%    
Xilingol Tongli Germanium Co. Ltd Investment      
Summary of investments [Abstract]      
Investments in privately-held companies $ 4,000,000 5,343,000  
Percentage of ownership, equity method (in hundredths) 25.00%    
Emeishan Jia Mei High Purity Metals Co., Ltd Investment      
Summary of investments [Abstract]      
Investments in privately-held companies $ 1,101,000 1,081,000  
Percentage of ownership, equity method (in hundredths) 25.00%    
Seven Minority Investments      
Summary of investments [Abstract]      
Gross equity earnings from minority-owned joint ventures that are not consolidated, recorded as other income $ (2,000,000) 462,000 1,500,000
Net income $ (2,000,000) $ 462,000 $ 1,500,000
Minority investments not consolidated accounted for under equity method | entity 7 7 7
Beijing JiYa Semiconductor Material Co., Ltd      
Summary of investments [Abstract]      
Indirect investments | entity 3    
Nanjing Jin Mei Gallium Co., Ltd      
Summary of investments [Abstract]      
Number of new board representatives | employee 2    
Beijing BoYu Semiconductor Vessel Craftwork Technology Co., Ltd      
Summary of investments [Abstract]      
Number of new board representatives | employee 2    
Jinmei [Member]      
Summary of investments [Abstract]      
Indirect investments | entity 1    
Majority-Owned Subsidiaries [Member]      
Summary of investments [Abstract]      
Investments, consolidated $ 5,269,000 $ 5,269,000