Condensed Financial Information for Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc. (Parent Company Only) - Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Condensed Cash Flow Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash used in operating activities	$ 7,388,971	$ (45,434,310)	$ (43,786,769)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Net cash provided by/(used in) investing activities	(155,249,639)	(9,280,391)	10,251,871
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayment of Term Loan	(13,021,000)
Proceeds from common stock placement, net of issuance costs	96,030,003	85,700,535	0
Financing costs paid to lenders	(3,886,104)	(3,086,947)	0
Cash used to settle net share equity awards	(289,539)	(2,938)	(1,419,228)
Net cash provided by financing activities	127,595,602	106,334,650	18,455,772
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(20,265,066)	51,619,949	(15,079,126)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	76,516,110	24,896,161	39,975,287
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	56,251,044	76,516,110	24,896,161
Parent Company
Condensed Cash Flow Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash used in operating activities	(2,245,856)	(4,715,072)	(18,496,422)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash distributed to wholly-owned subsidiaries	(138,238,309)	(36,853,951)	(4,762,134)
Net cash provided by/(used in) investing activities	(138,238,309)	(36,853,951)	(4,762,134)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayment of Term Loan	0	(3,906,250)	(19,625,000)
Proceeds from Revolver Loan facility under Exit Financing Facility		0	40,000,000
Proceeds from common stock placement, net of issuance costs	96,030,003	85,700,535	0
Financing costs paid to lenders	0	0	(500,000)
Cash used to settle net share equity awards	(289,539)	(2,938)	(1,419,229)
Net cash provided by financing activities	95,740,464	81,791,347	18,455,771
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(44,743,701)	40,222,324	(4,802,785)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	62,326,786	22,104,462	26,907,247
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	17,583,085	62,326,786	22,104,462
Supplemental cash flow information:
Cash paid during the period for interest	$ 0	$ 2,529,674	$ 9,911,793