v2.4.0.6

Investments in Equity-Accounted Investees - Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Detail) (Trident Microsystems Inc [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011
Trident Microsystems Inc [Member]
Income Statement Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Net revenues	$ 298,349
Cost of revenues	(233,920)
Gross profit	64,429
Research and development expenses	(138,972)
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(65,263)
Goodwill impairment
Restructuring charges	(10,042)
Operating loss	(149,848)
Gain (loss) on investment	2,098
Gain on acquisition
Interest and other income (expense), net	5,089
Loss before income taxes	(142,661)
Provision for income taxes	(7,689)
Net loss	$ (150,350)

X

- Definition

Equity Method Investment Summarized Financial Information Gross Revenue

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nxpi_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationGrossRevenue
Namespace Prefix:	nxpi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Equity Method Investment Summarized Financial Information Impairment Charges

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nxpi_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationImpairmentCharges
Namespace Prefix:	nxpi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Equity Method Investment Summarized Financial Information Income Loss Before Income Tax Expense Benefit

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nxpi_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationIncomeLossBeforeIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Namespace Prefix:	nxpi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Equity Method Investment Summarized Financial Information Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nxpi_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationIncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxes
Namespace Prefix:	nxpi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Equity Method Investment Summarized Financial Information Interest And Other Income Expense Net

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nxpi_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationInterestAndOtherIncomeExpenseNet
Namespace Prefix:	nxpi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Equity Method Investment Summarized Financial Information Net Realized And Unrealized Gain Loss From Investments

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nxpi_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationNetRealizedAndUnrealizedGainLossFromInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	nxpi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Equity Method Investment Summarized Financial Information Provision For Income Taxes

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nxpi_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationProvisionForIncomeTaxes
Namespace Prefix:	nxpi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Equity Method Investment Summarized Financial Information Research And Development Expense

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nxpi_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationResearchAndDevelopmentExpense
Namespace Prefix:	nxpi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Equity Method Investment Summarized Financial Information Restructuring Charges

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nxpi_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationRestructuringCharges
Namespace Prefix:	nxpi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Equity Method Investment Summarized Financial Information Selling General And Administrative Expenses

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nxpi_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationSellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpenses
Namespace Prefix:	nxpi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Gain Loss On Acquisition

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	nxpi_GainLossOnAcquisition
Namespace Prefix:	nxpi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Details

Name:	nxpi_IncomeStatementEquityMethodInvestmentsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	nxpi_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The amount of the cost of sales reported by an equity method investment of the entity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationCostOfSales
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The amount of gross profit (loss) reported by an equity method investment of the entity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

-Number 18

-Paragraph 20

-Subparagraph d

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 323

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6382943&loc=d3e33918-111571



Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 235

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(g))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6881521&loc=d3e23780-122690



Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph bb

-Article 1



Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (f)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6957238&loc=d3e14064-108612



Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 159

-Paragraph 18

-Subparagraph f

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.



Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 08

-Paragraph g

-Subparagraph 1, 2

-Article 4



Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 323

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6382943&loc=d3e33912-111571



Reference 9: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph w

-Article 1

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationGrossProfitLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The amount of revenue from sale of goods and services reduced by sales returns, allowances, and discounts reported by an equity method investment of the entity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentSummarizedFinancialInformationRevenue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration