v3.6.0.2

Identified Intangible Assets - Summary of Changes in Identified Intangible Assets (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Beginning balance, Cost |  | $ 9,978 | $ 1,866 |
Beginning balance, Accumulated amortization/impairment |  | (1,188) | (1,293) |
Beginning balance, Book value |  | 8,790 | 573 |
Changes in book value: |  |  |  |
Acquisitions/additions |  | 299 | 8,551 |
Transfer to assets held for sale |  | (138) | (38) |
Amortization |  | (1,507) | (255) |
Impairment |  | (89) |  |
Translation differences |  | (12) | (41) |
Total changes |  | (1,447) | 8,217 |
Ending balance, Cost |  | 9,512 | 9,978 | $ 1,866
Ending balance, Accumulated amortization/impairment |  | (2,169) | (1,188) | (1,293)
Ending balance, Book value |  | 7,343 | 8,790 | 573
Other Intangible Assets [Member] |  |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Beginning balance, Cost |  | 9,832 | 1,715 |
Beginning balance, Accumulated amortization/impairment |  | (1,083) | (1,207) |
Beginning balance, Book value |  | 8,749 | 508 |
Changes in book value: |  |  |  |
Acquisitions/additions |  | 289 | 8,543 |
Transfer to assets held for sale |  | (138) | (38) |
Amortization | [1] | (1,572) | (229) | (155)
Impairment |  | (89) |  |
Translation differences |  | (10) | (35) |
Total changes |  | (1,431) | 8,241 |
Ending balance, Cost |  | 9,397 | 9,832 | 1,715
Ending balance, Accumulated amortization/impairment |  | (2,079) | (1,083) | (1,207)
Ending balance, Book value |  | 7,318 | 8,749 | 508
Software [Member] |  |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Beginning balance, Cost |  | 146 | 151 |
Beginning balance, Accumulated amortization/impairment |  | (105) | (86) |
Beginning balance, Book value |  | 41 | 65 |
Changes in book value: |  |  |  |
Acquisitions/additions |  | 10 | 8 |
Amortization |  | (24) | (26) |
Translation differences |  | (2) | (6) |
Total changes |  | (16) | (24) |
Ending balance, Cost |  | 115 | 146 | 151
Ending balance, Accumulated amortization/impairment |  | (90) | (105) | (86)
Ending balance, Book value |  | $ 25 | $ 41 | $ 65
[1] | Includes impairment charges relative to IPR&D, which was acquired as part of the acquisition of Freescale of $89 million for 2016.

X
- Definition Changes In Net Book Value [Abstract] + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | nxpi_ChangesInNetBookValueAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | nxpi_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Finite Lived Intangible Assets, Transferred to Assets Held for Sale + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | nxpi_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsTransferredToAssetsHeldForSale
Namespace Prefix: | nxpi_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The aggregate expense charged against earnings to allocate the cost of intangible assets (nonphysical assets not used in production) in a systematic and rational manner to the periods expected to benefit from such assets. As a noncash expense, this element is added back to net income when calculating cash provided by or used in operations using the indirect method. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388964&loc=d3e16225-109274 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66006027&loc=d3e16323-109275 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Accumulated amount of amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66006027&loc=d3e16323-109275 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of foreign currency translation gain (loss) which increases (decreases) assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsForeignCurrencyTranslationGainLoss
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount before amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66006027&loc=d3e16323-109275 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount after amortization of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66006027&loc=d3e16323-109275 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of increase (decrease) in carrying value of assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsPeriodIncreaseDecrease
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of increase in assets, excluding financial assets, lacking physical substance with a definite life, from an acquisition. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FinitelivedIntangibleAssetsAcquired1
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The amount of impairment loss recognized in the period resulting from the write-down of the carrying amount of a finite-lived intangible asset to fair value. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66006027&loc=d3e16373-109275 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsFinitelived
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_OtherIntangibleAssetsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_SoftwareAndSoftwareDevelopmentCostsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |