Net Income (Loss) Attributable to ORBCOMM Inc. Common Stockholders - Summary of Basic and Diluted Calculations of EPS (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net loss attributable to ORBCOMM Inc. common stockholders									$ (26,262)	$ (61,296)	$ (23,525)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic number of common shares outstanding	78,895	78,649	78,079	74,729	74,325	73,762	71,978	71,424	77,603	72,882	70,907
Diluted number of common shares outstanding	78,895	78,649	78,079	74,729	74,325	73,762	71,978	71,424	77,603	72,882	70,907
Earnings per share:
Basic									$ (0.34)	$ (0.84)	$ (0.33)
Diluted									$ (0.34)	$ (0.84)	$ (0.33)