Related Party Transactions - Additional Information (Details)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($) RenewalOption Agreement Building	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) Parcel
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Service revenue with related parties	$ 2,900,000	$ 4,600,000	$ 6,900,000	$ 12,400,000
Reimbursed out-of-pocket revenue with related parties	400,000	1,700,000	1,100,000	2,900,000
Accounts receivable and unbilled, net	1,200,000		1,200,000		$ 2,300,000
Advanced billings	4,200,000		4,200,000		7,600,000
Pre-funded study costs with related parties	1,500,000		1,500,000		3,900,000
Deemed landlord liability, long-term portions	27,591,000		27,591,000		28,527,000
Cinven
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Management fees expense with related party		100,000		200,000
Medpace Investors
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related party tax expense		200,000		800,000
Employee Loans
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Employee advances receivables	200,000		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				400,000
Service Agreements | Symplmed | Maximum
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Service revenue with related parties	100,000	100,000	100,000
Service Agreements | Coherus Bio Sciences Inc
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Service revenue with related parties	1,800,000	4,300,000	5,100,000	11,400,000
Reimbursed out-of-pocket revenue with related parties	400,000	1,600,000	1,000,000	2,900,000
Accounts receivable and unbilled, net	600,000		600,000		2,000,000
Advanced billings	3,700,000		3,700,000		6,300,000
Pre-funded study costs with related parties	1,400,000		1,400,000		3,800,000
Service Agreements | Xenon
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Service revenue with related parties	100,000	100,000	600,000	400,000
Accounts receivable and unbilled, net					300,000
Advanced billings	400,000		400,000		1,300,000
Pre-funded study costs with related parties	100,000		100,000		100,000
Service Agreements | Xenon | Maximum
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Accounts receivable and unbilled, net	100,000		100,000
Service Agreements | Cymabay
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Service revenue with related parties	200,000	100,000	300,000	200,000
Accounts receivable and unbilled, net	100,000		100,000
Service Agreements | Cymabay | Maximum
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Accounts receivable and unbilled, net					100,000
Service Agreements | LIB
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Service revenue with related parties	500,000		600,000
Accounts receivable and unbilled, net	300,000		300,000
Service Agreements | LIB | Maximum
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Service revenue with related parties		100,000		100,000
Accounts receivable and unbilled, net					$ 100,000
Service Agreements | CinRX
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Service revenue with related parties	200,000		200,000
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			$ 400,000
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	600,000	600,000	$ 1,100,000	1,100,000
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	1,000,000	1,000,000	$ 1,900,000	1,900,000
Deemed landlord liability, current	1,800,000		1,800,000		$ 1,700,000
Deemed landlord liability, long-term portions	27,600,000		27,600,000		28,500,000
Leased Real Estate | Property and Equipment, Net | Chief Executive Officer And Immediate Family | Building
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Deemed assets, net	17,200,000		17,200,000		$ 18,100,000
Travel Services | Chief Executive Officer
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Travel expenses with related party	$ 300,000	$ 200,000	$ 600,000	$ 500,000