DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS (Details 3) (Lending Tree Loans, Discontinued operations, USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012
Loans held for sale
Gains (losses) included in earnings relating to assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3)
Total net gains (losses) included in earnings relating to assets	$ (380)	$ (147)
Change in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets still held at the end of the period	(412)	(412)
Interest Rate Lock Commitments
Gains (losses) included in earnings relating to assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3)
Total net gains (losses) included in earnings	0	73,378
Change in unrealized gain (losses) relating to assets and liabilities still held at the end of the period	0	0
Forward delivery contracts
Gains (losses) included in earnings relating to assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3)
Total net gains (losses) included in earnings	0	846
Change in unrealized gain (losses) relating to assets and liabilities still held at the end of the period	$ 0	$ 0

This item represents the amount of change in unrealized (holding) gains or losses for the period which are included in the statement of income. Such unrealized (holding) gains or losses relate to those assets and liabilities still held at the reporting date for which fair value is measured on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3).

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	tree_FairValueAssetsLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainLossIncludedInEarnings
Namespace Prefix:	tree_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This item represents the amount of the total change in unrealized (holding) gains or losses for the period which are included in the statement of income (or changes in net assets). Such unrealized (holding) gains or losses relate to those assets still held at the reporting date for which fair value is measured on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3).

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	tree_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisChangeInUnrealizedGainLossIncludedInEarnings
Namespace Prefix:	tree_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringAndNonrecurringBasisLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This item represents the amount of the total realized and unrealized gains or losses for the period which are included in the statement of income (or changes in net assets); the fair value of which assets and liabilities was or is measured on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 820

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7578670&loc=d3e19207-110258

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisGainLossIncludedInEarnings
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of gain (loss) recognized in earnings, arising from assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis using unobservable inputs (level 3).

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetGainLossIncludedInEarnings1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration