<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?>
<FilingSummary>
  <Version>3.5.0.2</Version>
  <ProcessingTime/>
  <ReportFormat>html</ReportFormat>
  <ContextCount>134</ContextCount>
  <ElementCount>191</ElementCount>
  <EntityCount>1</EntityCount>
  <FootnotesReported>false</FootnotesReported>
  <SegmentCount>44</SegmentCount>
  <ScenarioCount>0</ScenarioCount>
  <TuplesReported>false</TuplesReported>
  <UnitCount>8</UnitCount>
  <MyReports>
    <Report instance="bfam-20160930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R1.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>0001000 - Document - Document and Entity Information</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.brighthorizons.com/role/DocumentAndEntityInformation</Role>
      <ShortName>Document and Entity Information</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Cover</MenuCategory>
      <Position>1</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bfam-20160930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R2.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1001000 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.brighthorizons.com/role/CondensedConsolidatedBalanceSheets</Role>
      <ShortName>Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>2</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bfam-20160930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R3.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1001501 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.brighthorizons.com/role/CondensedConsolidatedBalanceSheetsParenthetical</Role>
      <ShortName>Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>3</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bfam-20160930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R4.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1002000 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.brighthorizons.com/role/CondensedConsolidatedStatementsOfOperations</Role>
      <ShortName>Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>4</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bfam-20160930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R5.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1003000 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.brighthorizons.com/role/CondensedConsolidatedStatementsOfComprehensiveIncome</Role>
      <ShortName>Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>5</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bfam-20160930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R6.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>1005000 - Statement - Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.brighthorizons.com/role/CondensedConsolidatedStatementsOfCashFlows</Role>
      <ShortName>Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Statements</MenuCategory>
      <Position>6</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bfam-20160930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R7.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2101100 - Disclosure - Organization and Basis of Presentation</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.brighthorizons.com/role/OrganizationAndBasisOfPresentation</Role>
      <ShortName>Organization and Basis of Presentation</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>7</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bfam-20160930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R8.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2103100 - Disclosure - Goodwill and Intangible Assets</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.brighthorizons.com/role/GoodwillAndIntangibleAssets</Role>
      <ShortName>Goodwill and Intangible Assets</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>8</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bfam-20160930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R9.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2104100 - Disclosure - Acquisitions</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.brighthorizons.com/role/Acquisitions</Role>
      <ShortName>Acquisitions</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>9</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bfam-20160930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R10.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2105100 - Disclosure - Credit Arrangements and Debt Obligations</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.brighthorizons.com/role/CreditArrangementsAndDebtObligations</Role>
      <ShortName>Credit Arrangements and Debt Obligations</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>10</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bfam-20160930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R11.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2106100 - Disclosure - Earnings Per Share</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.brighthorizons.com/role/EarningsPerShare</Role>
      <ShortName>Earnings Per Share</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>11</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bfam-20160930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R12.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2109100 - Disclosure - Income Taxes</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.brighthorizons.com/role/IncomeTaxes</Role>
      <ShortName>Income Taxes</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>12</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bfam-20160930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R13.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2112100 - Disclosure - Fair Value of Financial Instruments</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.brighthorizons.com/role/FairValueOfFinancialInstruments</Role>
      <ShortName>Fair Value of Financial Instruments</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>13</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bfam-20160930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R14.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2114100 - Disclosure - Segment Information</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.brighthorizons.com/role/SegmentInformation</Role>
      <ShortName>Segment Information</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Notes</MenuCategory>
      <Position>14</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bfam-20160930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R15.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2201201 - Disclosure - Organization and Basis of Presentation (Policies)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.brighthorizons.com/role/OrganizationAndBasisOfPresentationPolicies</Role>
      <ShortName>Organization and Basis of Presentation (Policies)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Policies</MenuCategory>
      <Position>15</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bfam-20160930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R16.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2303301 - Disclosure - Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.brighthorizons.com/role/GoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.brighthorizons.com/role/GoodwillAndIntangibleAssets</ParentRole>
      <Position>16</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bfam-20160930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R17.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2305301 - Disclosure - Credit Arrangements and Debt Obligations (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.brighthorizons.com/role/CreditArrangementsAndDebtObligationsTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Credit Arrangements and Debt Obligations (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.brighthorizons.com/role/CreditArrangementsAndDebtObligations</ParentRole>
      <Position>17</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bfam-20160930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R18.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2306301 - Disclosure - Earnings Per Share (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.brighthorizons.com/role/EarningsPerShareTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Earnings Per Share (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.brighthorizons.com/role/EarningsPerShare</ParentRole>
      <Position>18</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bfam-20160930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R19.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2312301 - Disclosure - Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.brighthorizons.com/role/FairValueOfFinancialInstrumentsTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.brighthorizons.com/role/FairValueOfFinancialInstruments</ParentRole>
      <Position>19</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bfam-20160930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R20.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2314301 - Disclosure - Segment Information (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.brighthorizons.com/role/SegmentInformationTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Segment Information (Tables)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Tables</MenuCategory>
      <ParentRole>http://www.brighthorizons.com/role/SegmentInformation</ParentRole>
      <Position>20</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bfam-20160930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R21.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2401402 - Disclosure - Organization and Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.brighthorizons.com/role/OrganizationAndSignificantAccountingPoliciesAdditionalInformationDetail</Role>
      <ShortName>Organization and Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>21</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bfam-20160930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R22.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2403402 - Disclosure - Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.brighthorizons.com/role/GoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsChangesInCarryingAmountOfGoodwillDetail</Role>
      <ShortName>Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill (Detail)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>22</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bfam-20160930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R23.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2403403 - Disclosure - Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.brighthorizons.com/role/GoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsIntangibleAssetsSubjectToAmortizationDetail</Role>
      <ShortName>Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization (Detail)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>23</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bfam-20160930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R24.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2403404 - Disclosure - Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Estimated Amortization Expense Related to Intangible Assets (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.brighthorizons.com/role/GoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsEstimatedAmortizationExpenseRelatedToIntangibleAssetsDetail</Role>
      <ShortName>Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Estimated Amortization Expense Related to Intangible Assets (Detail)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>24</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bfam-20160930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R25.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2404401 - Disclosure - Acquisitions - Additional Information (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.brighthorizons.com/role/AcquisitionsAdditionalInformationDetail</Role>
      <ShortName>Acquisitions - Additional Information (Detail)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>25</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bfam-20160930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R26.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2405402 - Disclosure - Credit Arrangements and Debt Obligations - Outstanding Borrowing (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.brighthorizons.com/role/CreditArrangementsAndDebtObligationsOutstandingBorrowingDetail</Role>
      <ShortName>Credit Arrangements and Debt Obligations - Outstanding Borrowing (Detail)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>26</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bfam-20160930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R27.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2405403 - Disclosure - Credit Arrangements and Debt Obligations - Additional Information (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.brighthorizons.com/role/CreditArrangementsAndDebtObligationsAdditionalInformationDetail</Role>
      <ShortName>Credit Arrangements and Debt Obligations - Additional Information (Detail)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>27</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bfam-20160930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R28.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2405404 - Disclosure - Credit Arrangements and Debt Obligations - Future Principal Payments Under New Term Loan (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.brighthorizons.com/role/CreditArrangementsAndDebtObligationsFuturePrincipalPaymentsUnderNewTermLoanDetail</Role>
      <ShortName>Credit Arrangements and Debt Obligations - Future Principal Payments Under New Term Loan (Detail)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>28</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bfam-20160930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R29.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2406402 - Disclosure - Earnings Per Share - Additional Information (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.brighthorizons.com/role/EarningsPerShareAdditionalInformationDetail</Role>
      <ShortName>Earnings Per Share - Additional Information (Detail)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>29</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bfam-20160930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R30.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2406403 - Disclosure - Earnings Per Share - Computation of Basic Earnings Per Common Share (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.brighthorizons.com/role/EarningsPerShareComputationOfBasicEarningsPerCommonShareDetail</Role>
      <ShortName>Earnings Per Share - Computation of Basic Earnings Per Common Share (Detail)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>30</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bfam-20160930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R31.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2406404 - Disclosure - Earnings Per Share - Computation of Diluted Earnings per Common Share (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.brighthorizons.com/role/EarningsPerShareComputationOfDilutedEarningsPerCommonShareDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Earnings Per Share - Computation of Diluted Earnings per Common Share (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>31</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bfam-20160930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R32.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2409401 - Disclosure - Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.brighthorizons.com/role/IncomeTaxesAdditionalInformationDetail</Role>
      <ShortName>Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>32</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bfam-20160930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R33.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2412402 - Disclosure - Fair Value Measurements - Debt (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.brighthorizons.com/role/FairValueMeasurementsDebtDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Fair Value Measurements - Debt (Details)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>33</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bfam-20160930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R34.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2412403 - Disclosure - Fair Value Measures - Additional Information (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.brighthorizons.com/role/FairValueMeasuresAdditionalInformationDetail</Role>
      <ShortName>Fair Value Measures - Additional Information (Detail)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>34</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report instance="bfam-20160930.xml">
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R35.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>2414402 - Disclosure - Segment Information - Income from Operations by Segment (Detail)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.brighthorizons.com/role/SegmentInformationIncomeFromOperationsBySegmentDetail</Role>
      <ShortName>Segment Information - Income from Operations by Segment (Detail)</ShortName>
      <MenuCategory>Details</MenuCategory>
      <Position>35</Position>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <LongName>All Reports</LongName>
      <ReportType>Book</ReportType>
      <ShortName>All Reports</ShortName>
    </Report>
  </MyReports>
  <InputFiles>
    <File>bfam-20160930.xml</File>
    <File>bfam-20160930.xsd</File>
    <File>bfam-20160930_cal.xml</File>
    <File>bfam-20160930_def.xml</File>
    <File>bfam-20160930_lab.xml</File>
    <File>bfam-20160930_pre.xml</File>
  </InputFiles>
  <SupplementalFiles/>
  <BaseTaxonomies/>
  <HasPresentationLinkbase>true</HasPresentationLinkbase>
  <HasCalculationLinkbase>true</HasCalculationLinkbase>
</FilingSummary>
