Line item represents the contractual obligation included in table.

No definition available.

Name:	rmbs_ContractualObligationLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	rmbs_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Contractual obligation, to be paid, after year four.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rmbs_ContractualObligationToBePaidAfterYearFour
Namespace Prefix:	rmbs_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of contractual obligation, including, but not limited to, long-term debt, lease obligation, purchase obligation, and other commitments.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 235
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-06)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477314/942-235-S99-2

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S50
-Paragraph 4
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480738/235-10-S50-4

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-04(a))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480678/235-10-S99-3

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ContractualObligation
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of contractual obligation to be paid in fourth fiscal year following current fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported from current statement of financial position date (rolling approach).

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ContractualObligationDueInFourthYear
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of contractual obligation to be paid in next fiscal year following current fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported from current statement of financial position date (rolling approach).

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ContractualObligationDueInNextTwelveMonths
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of contractual obligation to be paid in second fiscal year following current fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported from current statement of financial position date (rolling approach).

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ContractualObligationDueInSecondYear
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of contractual obligation to be paid in third fiscal year following current fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported from current statement of financial position date (rolling approach).

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ContractualObligationDueInThirdYear
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of contractual obligation to be paid in remainder of current fiscal year.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ContractualObligationFutureMinimumPaymentsDueRemainderOfFiscalYear
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	rmbs_ContractualObligationAxis=us-gaap_SoftwareLicenseArrangementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	rmbs_ContractualObligationAxis=rmbs_OtherContractualObligationsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: