Earnings Per Share - Reconciliation of Numerators and Denominators Used for Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Numerator:
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to La Quinta Holdings’ stockholders									$ 26,365	$ (336,794)	$ 6,471
Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to La Quinta Holdings’ stockholders										(503)	(2,495)
Net Income (Loss) attributable to La Quinta Holdings’ stockholders	$ 7,828	$ 17,058	$ (4,663)	$ 6,142	$ (4,193)	$ 12,817	$ (338,578)	$ (7,343)	$ 26,365	$ (337,297)	$ 3,976
Denominator:
Weighted average number of shares outstanding, basic									128,272	126,156	121,996
Weighted average number of shares outstanding, diluted									129,172	126,156	121,996
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to La Quinta Holdings’ stockholders per common share, basic and diluted									$ 0.21	$ (2.67)	$ 0.05
Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to La Quinta Holdings’ stockholders per common share, basic and diluted											(0.02)
Basic earnings (loss) per share	$ 0.06	$ 0.13	$ (0.04)	$ 0.05					0.21	(2.67)	0.03
Diluted earnings (loss) per share	$ 0.06	$ 0.13	$ (0.04)	$ 0.05					$ 0.20	$ (2.67)	$ 0.03