Document and Entity Information - shares	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jul. 20, 2020
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2020
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Trading Symbol	MSTR
Entity Registrant Name	MICROSTRATEGY INCORPORATED
Entity Central Index Key	0001050446
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Title of 12(b) Security	Class A common stock, par value $0.001 per share
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity File Number	000-24435
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	51-0323571
Entity Address, Address Line One	1850 Towers Crescent Plaza
Entity Address, City or Town	Tysons Corner
Entity Address, State or Province	VA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	22182
City Area Code	703
Local Phone Number	848-8600
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Transition Report	false
Class A
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		7,650,993
Class B Convertible
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		2,035,184