Supplemental Guarantor Financial Information - Cash Flows (Details) - Cardtronics Delaware - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Condensed Cash Flow Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	$ 124,587	$ 86,586
Additions to property and equipment	(39,571)	(56,418)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(14,544)	(23,956)
Proceeds from sale of assets and businesses	9,348	7,610
Net cash used in investing activities	(44,767)	(72,764)
Proceeds from borrowings under revolving credit facility	134,307	180,500
Repayments of borrowings under revolving credit facility	(216,000)	(199,584)
Proceeds from intercompany notes payable	17,911
Repayments of intercompany notes payable	(17,911)
Proceeds from exercises of stock options	145	581
Additional tax (expense) benefit related to stock-based compensation	(343)	841
Repurchase of capital stock	(3,959)	(4,027)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(85,850)	(21,689)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(615)	781
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(6,645)	(7,086)
Cash and cash equivalents as of beginning of period	26,297	31,875
Cash and cash equivalents as of end of period	19,652	24,789
Consolidation Eliminations
Condensed Cash Flow Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities		376
Additions to property and equipment		(376)
Investment in subsidiary		20,634
Net cash used in investing activities		20,258
Issuance of capital stock		(20,634)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities		(20,634)
Parent
Condensed Cash Flow Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	48,940	31,923
Investment in subsidiary		(10,317)
Net cash used in investing activities		(10,317)
Proceeds from borrowings under revolving credit facility	120,100	180,500
Repayments of borrowings under revolving credit facility	(182,700)	(199,500)
Proceeds from intercompany notes payable	17,911
Proceeds from exercises of stock options	145	581
Additional tax (expense) benefit related to stock-based compensation	(343)	841
Repurchase of capital stock	(3,959)	(4,027)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(48,846)	(21,605)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	94	1
Cash and cash equivalents as of beginning of period	782
Cash and cash equivalents as of end of period	876	1
Guarantors
Condensed Cash Flow Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	27,437	20,694
Additions to property and equipment	(17,520)	(27,735)
Investment in subsidiary		(10,317)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(14,544)
Net cash used in investing activities	(32,064)	(38,052)
Issuance of capital stock		10,317
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities		10,317
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(4,627)	(7,041)
Cash and cash equivalents as of beginning of period	6,200	9,391
Cash and cash equivalents as of end of period	1,573	2,350
Non-Guarantors
Condensed Cash Flow Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	48,210	33,593
Additions to property and equipment	(22,051)	(28,307)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired		(23,956)
Proceeds from sale of assets and businesses	9,348	7,610
Net cash used in investing activities	(12,703)	(44,653)
Proceeds from borrowings under revolving credit facility	14,207
Repayments of borrowings under revolving credit facility	(33,300)	(84)
Repayments of intercompany notes payable	(17,911)
Issuance of capital stock		10,317
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(37,004)	10,233
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(615)	781
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(2,112)	(46)
Cash and cash equivalents as of beginning of period	19,315	22,484
Cash and cash equivalents as of end of period	$ 17,203	$ 22,438