CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) - USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 56,512,000	$ 36,152,000
Short-term investments	20,483,000	11,415,000
Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $977 and $1,013 as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016	17,649,000	14,453,000
Inventories	39,195,000	40,152,000
Related party notes receivable - current	159,000
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	4,663,000	5,114,000
Total current assets	138,661,000	107,286,000
Long-term investments	9,762,000	6,156,000
Property, plant and equipment, net	27,141,000	27,805,000
Related party notes receivable - long-term		157,000
Other assets	11,853,000	12,842,000
Total assets	187,417,000	154,246,000
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	8,159,000	6,691,000
Accrued liabilities	7,906,000	9,260,000
Total current liabilities	16,065,000	15,951,000
Long-term portion of royalty payments	431,000	575,000
Other long-term liabilities	232,000	330,000
Total liabilities	16,728,000	16,856,000
Commitments and contingencies (Note 12)
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock Series A, $0.001 par value; 2,000 shares authorized; 883 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 (Liquidation preference of $6.7 million and $6.6 million as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016.)	3,532,000	3,532,000
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 70,000 shares authorized; 38,581 and 33,032 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016.	39,000	33,000
Additional paid-in-capital	227,158,000	194,177,000
Accumulated deficit	(64,320,000)	(64,985,000)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	550,000	253,000
Total AXT, Inc. stockholders' equity	166,959,000	133,010,000
Noncontrolling interests	3,730,000	4,380,000
Total stockholders' equity	170,689,000	137,390,000
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 187,417,000	$ 154,246,000

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of liabilities incurred (and for which invoices have typically been received) and payable to vendors for goods and services received that are used in an entity's business. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount due from customers or clients, within one year of the balance sheet date (or the normal operating cycle, whichever is longer), for goods or services (including trade receivables) that have been delivered or sold in the normal course of business, reduced to the estimated net realizable fair value by an allowance established by the entity of the amount it deems uncertain of collection.