Supplemental Guarantor Financial Information - I/S (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income
Revenues	$ 362,965	$ 401,950	$ 385,112	$ 357,572	$ 309,822	$ 328,334	$ 323,961	$ 303,247	$ 1,507,599	$ 1,265,364	$ 1,200,301
Operating costs and expenses									1,416,587	1,118,985	1,060,384
Goodwill and intangible impairment									194,521
(Loss) income from operations									(103,509)	146,379	139,917
Interest expense (income), net, including amortization of deferred financing costs and note discount									47,610	28,889	30,814
Other (income) expense									3,524	2,958	3,780
(Loss) income before income taxes									(154,643)	114,532	105,323
Income tax (benefit) expense									(9,292)	26,622	39,342
Net (loss) income	15,956	(175,570)	15,157	(894)	24,959	27,478	20,114	15,359	(145,351)	87,910	65,981
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests									(1)	(81)	(1,099)
Net (loss) income attributable to controlling interests and available to common shareholders	$ 15,954	$ (175,561)	$ 15,158	$ (901)	$ 24,969	$ 27,490	$ 20,148	$ 15,384	(145,350)	87,991	67,080
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to controlling interests									$ (71,811)	69,000	61,300
Cardtronics Delaware
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income
Ownership in subsidiary, as a percent	100.00%								100.00%
Eliminations
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income
Revenues									$ (11,593)	(50,780)	(54,478)
Operating costs and expenses									(11,593)	(50,780)	(54,478)
Interest expense (income), net, including amortization of deferred financing costs and note discount									(1)		10
Equity in (earnings) losses of subsidiaries									222,085	264,378	129,575
Other (income) expense									(12,085)	29,329	(68,610)
(Loss) income before income taxes									(209,999)	(293,707)	(60,975)
Net (loss) income									(209,999)	(293,707)	(60,975)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests									(1)	(81)	(1,099)
Net (loss) income attributable to controlling interests and available to common shareholders									(209,998)	(293,626)	(59,876)
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to controlling interests									(288,258)	(273,302)	(54,757)
Parent [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income
Operating costs and expenses									30,015	18,166
(Loss) income from operations									(30,015)	(18,166)
Equity in (earnings) losses of subsidiaries									121,145	(102,653)	(65,981)
Other (income) expense									(130)	263
(Loss) income before income taxes									(151,030)	84,224	65,981
Income tax (benefit) expense									(5,679)	(3,686)
Net (loss) income									(145,351)	87,910	65,981
Net (loss) income attributable to controlling interests and available to common shareholders									(145,351)	87,910	65,981
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to controlling interests									(71,811)	68,919	60,201
Issuer | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income
Operating costs and expenses									2,087	22,565	4,945
(Loss) income from operations									(2,087)	(22,565)	(4,945)
Interest expense (income), net, including amortization of deferred financing costs and note discount									25,374	25,188	22,633
Equity in (earnings) losses of subsidiaries									(19,429)	(102,835)	(68,405)
Other (income) expense									(411)	(19,838)	(177)
(Loss) income before income taxes									(7,621)	74,920	41,004
Income tax (benefit) expense									(10,550)	(10,889)	(10,687)
Net (loss) income									2,929	85,809	51,691
Net (loss) income attributable to controlling interests and available to common shareholders									2,929	85,809	51,691
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to controlling interests									5,616	77,015	41,287
Guarantors [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income
Revenues									1,050,497	904,237	856,948
Operating costs and expenses									951,444	764,425	751,726
Goodwill and intangible impairment									194,521
(Loss) income from operations									(95,468)	139,812	105,222
Interest expense (income), net, including amortization of deferred financing costs and note discount									39,299	30,212	5,650
Equity in (earnings) losses of subsidiaries									(320,861)	(58,890)	4,811
Other (income) expense									26,322	(3,914)	(13,689)
(Loss) income before income taxes									159,772	172,404	108,450
Income tax (benefit) expense									1,881	37,268	42,443
Net (loss) income									157,891	135,136	66,007
Net (loss) income attributable to controlling interests and available to common shareholders									157,891	135,136	66,007
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to controlling interests									189,618	122,973	80,639
Non-Guarantors [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income
Revenues									468,695	411,907	397,831
Operating costs and expenses									444,634	364,609	358,191
(Loss) income from operations									24,061	47,298	39,640
Interest expense (income), net, including amortization of deferred financing costs and note discount									(17,062)	(26,511)	2,521
Equity in (earnings) losses of subsidiaries									(2,940)
Other (income) expense									(10,172)	(2,882)	86,256
(Loss) income before income taxes									54,235	76,691	(49,137)
Income tax (benefit) expense									5,056	3,929	7,586
Net (loss) income									49,179	72,762	(56,723)
Net (loss) income attributable to controlling interests and available to common shareholders									49,179	72,762	(56,723)
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to controlling interests									$ 93,024	$ 73,395	$ (66,070)