Cover - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Feb. 17, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Document Annual Report	true
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-31950
Entity Registrant Name	MONEYGRAM INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	16-1690064
Entity Address, Address Line One	2828 N. Harwood St., 15th Floor
Entity Address, City or Town	Dallas
Entity Address, State or Province	TX
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	75201
City Area Code	214
Local Phone Number	999-7552
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	true
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 197,800
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		72,541,506
Entity Information [Line Items]
ICFR Auditor Attestation Flag	true
Documents Incorporated by Reference	Certain information required by Part III of this report is incorporated by reference from the registrant's definitive proxy statement for the 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2020
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Entity Central Index Key	0001273931
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Common Stock
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Common stock, $0.01 par value
Trading Symbol	MGI
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Preferred Stock
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Preferred Stock Purchase Rights
Trading Symbol	☑
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ