Quarterly Financial Data - Quarterly Results of Operations (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 19,240	$ 19,693	$ 18,559	$ 16,720	$ 16,206	$ 16,094	$ 16,319	$ 15,879	$ 4,982	$ 74,212	$ 64,498	$ 46,306
Income from operations	1,533	1,210	1,603	1,355	2,417	2,564	2,370	1,747		5,701	9,098	985
Net income attributable to ORBCOMM Inc.	$ 819	$ 986	$ 1,686	$ 1,108	$ 2,127	$ 2,324	$ 1,882	$ 2,409		$ 4,599	$ 8,742	$ (18)
Net income per common share-basic:
Net income attributable to ORBCOMM Inc.	$ 0.02	$ 0.02	$ 0.04	$ 0.02	$ 0.05	$ 0.05	$ 0.04	$ 0.05
Net income per common share-diluted
Net income attributable to ORBCOMM Inc.	$ 0.02	$ 0.02	$ 0.03	$ 0.02	$ 0.04	$ 0.05	$ 0.04	$ 0.05
Weighted-average shares outstanding:
Basic	48,037,156	47,497,956	47,296,131	46,836,841	46,751,378	46,729,345	46,705,574	46,351,444		47,420,000	46,635,000	44,579,000
Diluted	49,482,702	48,810,357	48,430,379	48,143,185	47,562,352	47,558,818	47,448,918	47,192,756		48,770,000	47,514,000	44,579,000