Related Party Transactions - Additional Information (Details)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($) RenewalOption Agreement Building	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) Parcel
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Service revenue with related parties	$ 2,000,000	$ 6,900,000		$ 8,900,000	$ 19,300,000
Reimbursed out-of-pocket revenue with related parties	200,000	1,400,000		1,300,000	4,300,000
Accounts receivable and unbilled, net	800,000			800,000		$ 2,300,000
Advanced billings	2,700,000			2,700,000		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	27,104,000			27,104,000		28,527,000
Cinven
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Director fees with related party				100,000
Management fees expense with related party					200,000
Cinven | Maximum
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Director fees with related party	100,000
Management fees expense with related party		100,000
Medpace Investors
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related party tax expense		100,000			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]
Negative service revenue adjustments		(400,000)
Service Agreements | Symplmed | Maximum
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Service revenue with related parties	100,000			100,000
Negative service revenue adjustments					(100,000)
Service Agreements | Coherus Bio Sciences Inc
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Service revenue with related parties	1,400,000	6,800,000		6,500,000	18,200,000
Reimbursed out-of-pocket revenue with related parties	100,000	1,300,000		1,100,000	4,200,000
Accounts receivable and unbilled, net	300,000			300,000		2,000,000
Advanced billings	2,600,000			2,600,000		6,300,000
Pre-funded study costs with related parties	1,500,000			1,500,000		3,800,000
Service Agreements | Xenon
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Service revenue with related parties		400,000	$ 600,000		800,000
Advanced billings						1,300,000
Pre-funded study costs with related parties						100,000
Service Agreements | Cymabay
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Service revenue with related parties	200,000	100,000		400,000	300,000
Service Agreements | LIB
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Service revenue with related parties	500,000	100,000		1,100,000	100,000
Accounts receivable and unbilled, net	200,000			200,000
Service Agreements | LIB | Maximum
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Accounts receivable and unbilled, net						$ 100,000
Service Agreements | CinRx
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Service revenue with related parties	100,000			300,000
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	500,000	500,000		$ 1,600,000	1,600,000
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		$ 2,800,000	2,800,000
Deemed landlord liability, current	1,800,000			1,800,000		$ 1,700,000
Deemed landlord liability, long-term portions	27,100,000			27,100,000		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	16,800,000			16,800,000		$ 18,100,000
Travel Services | Chief Executive Officer
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Travel expenses with related party	$ 300,000	$ 300,000		$ 900,000	$ 800,000