Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income / (Loss) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Revenues
Net trading		$ 73,611	$ 38,172	$ 29,298
Principal transactions and other income		45,506	2,103	4,573
Total revenue		130,110	49,666	49,386
Operating expenses
Compensation and benefits		59,902	25,972	25,385
Business development, occupancy, equipment		2,708	3,402	2,995
Subscriptions, clearing, and execution		9,887	9,682	8,627
Professional fee and other operating		7,068	6,251	8,459
Depreciation and amortization		334	318	261
Impairment of goodwill		7,883
Total operating expenses		87,782	45,625	45,727
Operating income		42,328	4,041	3,659
Non-operating income / (expense)
Interest expense, net		(9,589)	(7,584)	(8,487)
Loss from equity method affiliates		(2,955)	(553)
Income / (loss) before income tax expense / (benefit)		29,784	(4,096)	(4,828)
Income tax (benefit)		(8,669)	(523)	(841)
Net income / (loss)		38,453	(3,573)	(3,987)
Less: Net income / (loss) attributable to the non-controlling interest		24,248	(1,519)	(1,524)
Net income / (loss) attributable to Cohen & Company Inc.		$ 14,205	$ (2,054)	$ (2,463)
Income / (loss) per common share-basic:
Basic income / (loss) per common share (in dollars per share)		$ 12.56	$ (1.81)	$ (2.14)
Weighted average shares outstanding-basic (in shares)		1,131,085	1,136,574	1,152,073
Income / (loss) per common share-diluted:
Diluted Income / (loss) per common share (in dollars per share)	[1]	$ 7.66	$ (1.81)	$ (2.14)
Weighted average shares outstanding-diluted (in shares)		5,091,087	1,681,173	1,684,482
Dividends declared per common share (in dollars per share)			$ 0.40	$ 0.80
Comprehensive income / (loss):
Net income / (loss)		$ 38,453	$ (3,573)	$ (3,987)
Other comprehensive income / (loss) item:
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax of $0		138	(2)	(118)
Other comprehensive income / (loss), net of tax of $0		138	(2)	(118)
Comprehensive income / (loss)		38,591	(3,575)	(4,105)
Less: comprehensive income / (loss) attributable to the non-controlling interest		24,351	(1,518)	(1,562)
Comprehensive income / (loss) attributable to Cohen & Company Inc.		14,240	(2,057)	(2,543)
Asset Management [Member]
Revenues
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax, Total		8,759	7,560	12,536
New Issue and Advisory [Member]
Revenues
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax, Total		$ 2,234	$ 1,831	$ 2,979

[1] Potentially diluted securities that were not included in the diluted per share calculations because they would be anti-dilutive were as follows: Year Ended December 31, 2020 2019 2018 2017 Convertible Note 1,034,483 1,034,483 - 2013 Convertible Notes 414,882 352,292 274,917 Restricted Common Stock 15,101 26,380 - Restricted Operating LLC units 3,752 - - 1,468,218 1,413,155 274,917