Document and Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Oct. 26, 2020
Document and Entity Information
Document Type	10-Q
Document Transition Report	false
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2020
Entity File Number	001-35155
Entity Registrant Name	BOINGO WIRELESS, INC.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	95-4856877
Entity Address, Address Line One	10960 Wilshire Blvd., 23rd Floor
Entity Address, City or Town	Los Angeles
Entity Address, State or Province	CA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	90024
City Area Code	310
Local Phone Number	586-5180
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, $0.0001 par value
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Trading Symbol	WIFI
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		44,530,884
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Entity Central Index Key	0001169988
Amendment Flag	false