Related Party Transactions - Additional Information (Details)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) Parcel	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($) RenewalOption Agreement Building	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Service revenue with related parties		$ 4,000,000	$ 7,800,000
Reimbursed out-of-pocket revenue with related parties		700,000	1,200,000
Accounts receivable and unbilled, net	$ 79,767,000	82,283,000
Advanced billings	65,668,000	60,474,000
Pre-funded study costs with related parties	3,900,000	3,900,000
Deemed landlord liability, long-term portions	28,527,000	28,063,000
Medpace Investors
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related party tax expense			600,000
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			300,000
Service Agreements | Coherus Bio Sciences Inc
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Service revenue with related parties		3,300,000	7,100,000
Reimbursed out-of-pocket revenue with related parties		600,000	1,200,000
Accounts receivable and unbilled, net	2,000,000	1,400,000
Advanced billings	6,300,000	5,000,000
Pre-funded study costs with related parties	3,800,000	3,600,000
Service Agreements | Xenon
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Service revenue with related parties		500,000	300,000
Accounts receivable and unbilled, net	300,000	100,000
Advanced billings	1,300,000	600,000
Pre-funded study costs with related parties	$ 100,000	200,000
Service Agreements | Maximum | Symplmed
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Service revenue with related parties		$ 100,000
Purchase of Real Estate Properties | Chief Executive Officer
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Number of parcel in real estate property | Parcel	4
Purchase price of real estate property	$ 355,500
Transaction closed date		Jan. 11, 2017
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
Lease expense recognized		$ 500,000	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		$ 900,000	900,000
Deemed landlord liability, current	1,700,000	1,800,000
Deemed landlord liability, long-term portions	28,500,000	28,100,000
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	17,600,000
Travel Services | Chief Executive Officer
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Travel expenses with related party		$ 300,000	$ 300,000