Related Party Transactions - Additional Information (Details)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) Building RenewalOption Agreement	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) shares	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 13, 2016 USD ($)
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Consulting fees paid in connection with related party transaction					$ 1,700,000
Service revenue with related parties		$ 11,800,000	$ 24,100,000	$ 24,000,000
Reimbursed out-of-pocket revenue with related parties		2,000,000	5,400,000	6,900,000
Reimbursed out-of-pocket expenses with related parties		2,000,000	5,400,000	6,900,000
Accounts receivable, unbilled services with related parties			2,300,000	2,900,000
Advanced billings			65,668,000	51,051,000
Pre-funded study costs with related parties			3,900,000	3,700,000
Deemed landlord liability, long-term portions			28,527,000	30,273,000
Stock-based compensation expense		5,423,000	9,815,000	$ 22,324,000
Employee Stock Purchase Agreement
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Number of common stock purchase by employee | shares				37,037
Stock-based compensation expense				$ 0
Predecessor
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Service revenue with related parties	$ 2,000,000
Reimbursed out-of-pocket revenue with related parties	100,000
Reimbursed out-of-pocket expenses with related parties	100,000
Stock-based compensation expense	7,340,000
Cinven
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Management fees expense with related party		200,000	200,000	300,000
Travel expenses with related party		100,000	100,000	100,000
Accounts payable to related party			100,000	100,000
Director fees with related party			100,000
Medpace Investors
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Accounts payable to related party			300,000
Receivables from related party			300,000
Related party tax expense		1,400,000	800,000	900,000
Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets | U.S. State and Local
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Due from related party			100,000	400,000
Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets | Maximum | Other Taxing Authorities
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Due from related party			100,000	100,000
Other Assets | U.S. State and Local
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Due from related party			100,000	400,000
Other Current Liabilities | Maximum | Other Taxing Authorities
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Due to related party			0	100,000
Other Current Liabilities | Former Owner Member
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Due to related party			100,000	400,000
Other Long-term Liabilities [Member] | Former Owner Member
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Due to related party			100,000	400,000
Employee Loans | Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Employee advances receivables						$ 200,000
Employee Loans | Other Assets
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Employee advances receivables				200,000
Service Agreements | Symplmed
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Service revenue with related parties		1,200,000		1,200,000
Receivables from related party				300,000
Service Agreements | Symplmed | Maximum
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Service revenue with related parties			(100,000)
Receivables from related party			100,000
Service Agreements | Coherus Bio Sciences Inc
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Service revenue with related parties		10,600,000	22,300,000	22,100,000
Amount of investment			$ 2,500,000
Service agreement cancellation notice period			30 days
Reimbursed out-of-pocket revenue with related parties		2,000,000	$ 5,100,000	6,900,000
Reimbursed out-of-pocket expenses with related parties		2,000,000	5,100,000	6,900,000
Accounts receivable, unbilled services with related parties			2,000,000	2,300,000
Advanced billings			6,300,000	8,400,000
Pre-funded study costs with related parties			$ 3,800,000	3,500,000
Service Agreements | Coherus Bio Sciences Inc | Predecessor
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Service revenue with related parties	2,000,000
Reimbursed out-of-pocket revenue with related parties	100,000
Reimbursed out-of-pocket expenses with related parties	100,000
Service Agreements | Coherus Bio Sciences Inc | Predecessor | Miscellaneous (Expense) Income, Net
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Service revenue with related parties	300,000
Service Agreements | MX II Associates LLC
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Percentage of sales commission			10.00%
Commission paid		600,000		1,100,000
Service Agreements | MX II Associates LLC | Predecessor
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Commission paid	300,000
Service Agreements | Xenon
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Service revenue with related parties			$ 1,300,000	700,000
Reimbursed out-of-pocket revenue with related parties			200,000
Reimbursed out-of-pocket expenses with related parties			200,000
Accounts receivable, unbilled services with related parties			300,000
Advanced billings			1,300,000	1,800,000
Pre-funded study costs with related parties			100,000	200,000
Service Agreements | Xenon | Maximum
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Reimbursed out-of-pocket revenue with related parties				100,000
Reimbursed out-of-pocket expenses with related parties				100,000
Accounts receivable, unbilled services with related parties				100,000
Service Agreements | Cymabay
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Service revenue with related parties			300,000	100,000
Service Agreements | LIB
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Service revenue with related parties			$ 200,000
Leased Real Estate | Chief Executive Officer
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Term of lease			12 years
Lease expiration period			2022-11
Number of lease renewal, 10-year option | RenewalOption			1
Lease term upon renewal			10 years
Annual base rent			$ 2,100,000
Lease expense recognized		1,600,000	$ 2,100,000	2,100,000
Storage space lease basis			month to month basis
Leased Real Estate | Chief Executive Officer | Predecessor
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Lease expense recognized	500,000
Leased Real Estate | Chief Executive Officer And Immediate Family
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Term of lease			15 years
Number of lease renewal, 10-year option | RenewalOption			1
Lease term upon renewal			10 years
Number of lease agreements | Agreement			2
Number of buildings | Building			2
Lease occupancy year			2012
Lease expiration year			2027
Accretion expense paid		3,100,000	$ 3,700,000	3,400,000
Deemed landlord liability, current			1,700,000	1,600,000
Deemed landlord liability, long-term portions			28,500,000	30,300,000
Leased Real Estate | Chief Executive Officer And Immediate Family | Predecessor
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Accretion expense paid	900,000
Leased Real Estate | Property and Equipment, Net | Chief Executive Officer And Immediate Family | Building
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Deemed assets, net			18,100,000	19,800,000
Travel Services | Chief Executive Officer
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Travel expenses with related party		$ 500,000	$ 1,000,000	$ 900,000
Travel Services | Chief Executive Officer | Predecessor
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Travel expenses with related party	$ 100,000