Techniques for determining channel quality indicators (CQIs) for a non-linear detector at a user equipment (UE) are described. In one design, the UE may determine at least one parameter (e.g., at least one threshold) based on at least one constellation constrained capacity function. Each threshold may correspond to a maximum number of information bits for one stream when a particular modulation order is used for another stream. The UE may determine CQIs for multiple streams for the non-linear detector based on the at least one parameter. The UE may also select a precoding matrix (e.g., jointly with the CQIs) based on the at least one parameter. The UE may report the selected precoding matrix and the CQIs for the multiple streams. The UE may thereafter receive a transmission of the multiple streams, which may be transmitted based on the selected precoding matrix and the CQIs.