Supplemental Guarantor Financial Information - I/S (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Revenues	$ 385,112	$ 323,961	$ 742,684	$ 627,208
Operating costs and expenses	350,734	285,595	704,199	558,809
(Loss) income from operations	34,378	38,366	38,485	68,399
Interest expense (income), net, including amortization of deferred financing costs and note discount	12,606	7,448	22,139	14,722
Other (income) expense	1,945	943	365	388
Income before income taxes	19,827	29,975	15,981	53,289
Income tax (benefit) expense	4,670	9,861	1,718	17,816
Net income	15,157	20,114	14,263	35,473
Net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1)	(34)	6	(59)
Net income attributable to controlling interests and available to common shareholders	15,158	20,148	14,257	35,532
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to controlling interests	45,367	(3,697)	53,118	(4,390)
Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Revenues	(3,162)	(3,038)	(5,646)	(5,747)
Operating costs and expenses	(2,205)	(3,038)	(3,620)	(5,743)
(Loss) income from operations	(957)		(2,026)	(4)
Equity in (earnings) losses of subsidiaries	45,612	41,711	57,570	76,798
Other (income) expense	(3,772)	(16)	(15,391)	(16)
Income before income taxes	(42,797)	(41,695)	(44,205)	(76,786)
Net income	(42,797)	(41,695)	(44,205)	(76,786)
Net (loss) income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1)	(34)	6	(59)
Net income attributable to controlling interests and available to common shareholders	(42,796)	(41,661)	(44,211)	(76,727)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to controlling interests	$ (73,015)	(17,651)	$ (83,074)	(36,763)
Cardtronics PLC [Member] | Cardtronics Delaware
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Ownership, as a percent	100.00%		100.00%
Parent [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Operating costs and expenses	$ 6,797		$ 12,696
(Loss) income from operations	(6,797)		(12,696)
Equity in (earnings) losses of subsidiaries	(21,932)	(20,114)	(26,676)	(35,473)
Other (income) expense	(296)		(232)
Income before income taxes	15,431	20,114	14,212	35,473
Income tax (benefit) expense	274		(51)
Net income	15,157	20,114	14,263	35,473
Net income attributable to controlling interests and available to common shareholders	15,157	20,114	14,263	35,473
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to controlling interests	45,368	(3,731)	53,124	(4,449)
Issuer | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Operating costs and expenses	2,733	6,556	12,451	14,058
(Loss) income from operations	(2,733)	(6,556)	(12,451)	(14,058)
Interest expense (income), net, including amortization of deferred financing costs and note discount	6,319	6,479	12,410	12,848
Equity in (earnings) losses of subsidiaries	(17,952)	(22,079)	(25,328)	(44,302)
Other (income) expense	(125)	271	(179)	(74)
Income before income taxes	9,025	8,773	646	17,470
Income tax (benefit) expense	(3,482)	(5,190)	(9,625)	(10,464)
Net income	12,507	13,963	10,271	27,934
Net income attributable to controlling interests and available to common shareholders	12,507	13,963	10,271	27,934
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to controlling interests	12,506	10,649	11,716	23,335
Guarantors [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Revenues	269,435	229,963	526,604	447,669
Operating costs and expenses	230,975	197,765	467,046	386,885
(Loss) income from operations	38,460	32,198	59,558	60,784
Interest expense (income), net, including amortization of deferred financing costs and note discount	10,660	196	18,562	319
Equity in (earnings) losses of subsidiaries	(5,728)	482	(5,566)	2,977
Other (income) expense	5,562	(965)	21,259	(2,074)
Income before income taxes	27,966	32,485	25,303	59,562
Income tax (benefit) expense	8,849	12,388	12,028	24,101
Net income	19,117	20,097	13,275	35,461
Net income attributable to controlling interests and available to common shareholders	19,117	20,097	13,275	35,461
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to controlling interests	20,625	19,263	25,808	25,939
Non-Guarantors [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Revenues	118,839	97,036	221,726	185,286
Operating costs and expenses	112,434	84,312	215,626	163,609
(Loss) income from operations	6,405	12,724	6,100	21,677
Interest expense (income), net, including amortization of deferred financing costs and note discount	(4,373)	773	(8,833)	1,555
Other (income) expense	576	1,653	(5,092)	2,552
Income before income taxes	10,202	10,298	20,025	17,570
Income tax (benefit) expense	(971)	2,663	(634)	4,179
Net income	11,173	7,635	20,659	13,391
Net income attributable to controlling interests and available to common shareholders	11,173	7,635	20,659	13,391
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to controlling interests	$ 39,883	$ (12,227)	$ 45,544	$ (12,452)