Supplemental Guarantor Financial Information - I/S (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income
Revenues	$ 401,950	$ 328,334	$ 1,144,634	$ 955,542
Operating costs and expenses	376,209	284,967	1,080,408	843,776
Goodwill and intangible impairment	194,521		194,521
(Loss) income from operations	(168,780)	43,367	(130,295)	111,766
Interest expense (income), net, including amortization of deferred financing costs and note discount	12,938	7,141	35,077	21,863
Other (income) expense	(2,095)	360	(1,730)	748
(Loss) income before income taxes	(179,623)	35,866	(163,642)	89,155
Income tax (benefit) expense	(4,053)	8,388	(2,335)	26,204
Net (loss) income	(175,570)	27,478	(161,307)	62,951
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(9)	(12)	(3)	(71)
Net (loss) income attributable to controlling interests and available to common shareholders	(175,561)	27,490	(161,304)	63,022
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to controlling interests	(152,500)	28,987	(99,382)	24,597
Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income
Revenues	(2,592)	(3,004)	(8,516)	(9,441)
Operating costs and expenses	(1,689)	(2,971)	(5,625)	(8,927)
(Loss) income from operations	(903)	(33)	(2,891)	(514)
Equity in (earnings) losses of subsidiaries	(129,894)	68,437	(73,210)	145,235
Other (income) expense	(5,044)	(32)	(20,435)	(49)
(Loss) income before income taxes	134,035	(68,438)	90,754	(145,700)
Net (loss) income	134,035	(68,438)	90,754	(145,700)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(9)	(12)	(3)	(71)
Net (loss) income attributable to controlling interests and available to common shareholders	134,044	(68,426)	90,757	(145,629)
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to controlling interests	109,673	(70,134)	27,523	(107,373)
Parent [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income
Operating costs and expenses	8,547	9,085	21,244	9,085
(Loss) income from operations	(8,547)	(9,085)	(21,244)	(9,085)
Equity in (earnings) losses of subsidiaries	166,944	(35,950)	140,268	(71,423)
Other (income) expense	95	(4)	(138)	(4)
(Loss) income before income taxes	(175,586)	26,869	(161,374)	62,342
Income tax (benefit) expense	(16)	(609)	(67)	(609)
Net (loss) income	(175,570)	27,478	(161,307)	62,951
Net (loss) income attributable to controlling interests and available to common shareholders	(175,570)	27,478	(161,307)	62,951
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to controlling interests	(152,509)	28,975	(99,384)	24,526
Issuer | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income
Operating costs and expenses	12,844	336	25,295	14,394
(Loss) income from operations	(12,844)	(336)	(25,295)	(14,394)
Interest expense (income), net, including amortization of deferred financing costs and note discount	6,410	6,305	18,821	19,153
Equity in (earnings) losses of subsidiaries	(32,956)	(21,552)	(58,284)	(65,854)
Other (income) expense	(236)	69	(416)	(5)
(Loss) income before income taxes	13,938	14,842	14,584	32,312
Income tax (benefit) expense	(7,417)	(6,686)	(17,043)	(17,151)
Net (loss) income	21,355	21,528	31,627	49,463
Net (loss) income attributable to controlling interests and available to common shareholders	21,355	21,528	31,627	49,463
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to controlling interests	$ 22,599	20,273	$ 34,315	43,607
Issuer | Cardtronics plc, parent
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income
Ownership in subsidiary, as a percent	100.00%		100.00%
Guarantors [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income
Revenues	$ 278,863	239,983	$ 805,467	687,651
Operating costs and expenses	244,123	201,341	711,231	588,225
Goodwill and intangible impairment	194,521		194,521
(Loss) income from operations	(159,781)	38,642	(100,285)	99,426
Interest expense (income), net, including amortization of deferred financing costs and note discount	10,468	14,599	29,029	14,917
Equity in (earnings) losses of subsidiaries	(4,094)	(10,935)	(8,774)	(7,958)
Other (income) expense	5,804	(547)	27,064	(2,620)
(Loss) income before income taxes	(171,959)	35,525	(147,604)	95,087
Income tax (benefit) expense	(873)	12,658	10,207	36,761
Net (loss) income	(171,086)	22,867	(157,811)	58,326
Net (loss) income attributable to controlling interests and available to common shareholders	(171,086)	22,867	(157,811)	58,326
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to controlling interests	(169,367)	29,871	(154,547)	55,961
Non-Guarantors [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income
Revenues	125,679	91,355	347,683	277,332
Operating costs and expenses	112,384	77,176	328,263	240,999
(Loss) income from operations	13,295	14,179	19,420	36,333
Interest expense (income), net, including amortization of deferred financing costs and note discount	(3,940)	(13,763)	(12,773)	(12,207)
Other (income) expense	(2,714)	874	(7,805)	3,426
(Loss) income before income taxes	19,949	27,068	39,998	45,114
Income tax (benefit) expense	4,253	3,025	4,568	7,203
Net (loss) income	15,696	24,043	35,430	37,911
Net (loss) income attributable to controlling interests and available to common shareholders	15,696	24,043	35,430	37,911
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to controlling interests	$ 37,104	$ 20,002	$ 92,711	$ 7,876