Stockholders' Equity and Compensation Arrangements Groupon, Inc. Stock Plans (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016		Jun. 30, 2015
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Available for Grant	78,166,856		78,166,856
Share-based Compensation	$ 37,552	$ 38,485	$ 68,308	[1]	$ 73,629	[1]
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs, Capitalized Amount	2,800	3,300	5,000		$ 6,400
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized	$ 154,900		$ 154,900
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized, Period for Recognition			1 year 25 days
Employee Stock Purchase Plan, shares authorized	10,000,000		10,000,000
Employee Stock Purchase Plan, issued shares			618,319		328,644
Continuing Operations [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation		38,500			$ 73,600
Discontinued Operations [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation		$ 4,200			$ 5,300

[1] Includes stock-based compensation classified within cost of revenue, marketing expense, selling, general and administrative expense and restructuring charges. Other income (expense), net, includes $0.2 million and $0.4 million of additional stock-based compensation for the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 and $0.02 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015.