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, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net loss attributable to ORBCOMM Inc. common stockholders									$ (18,435)	$ (26,262)	$ (61,296)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic number of common shares outstanding	78,275	79,695	79,688	79,387	78,895	78,649	78,079	74,729	79,259	77,603	72,882
Diluted number of common shares outstanding	78,275	79,695	79,688	79,387	78,895	78,649	78,079	74,729	79,259	77,603	72,882
Earnings per share:
Basic									$ (0.23)	$ (0.34)	$ (0.84)
Diluted									$ (0.23)	$ (0.34)	$ (0.84)