Consolidated Statements Of Changes In Equity (Parenthetical) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Consolidated Statements Of Changes In Equity [Abstract]
Dividends to Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc.'s shareholders, per share	$ 0.24	$ 0.17

Aggregate dividends paid during the period for each share of common stock outstanding.

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Article 3

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6959260&loc=d3e187085-122770

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Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration