Supplemental Guarantor Financial Information - I/S (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income
Revenues	$ 336,184	$ 357,572
Operating costs and expenses	324,358	353,465
Income from operations	11,826	4,107
Interest expense (income), net, including amortization of deferred financing costs and note discount	12,482	9,533
Other (income) expense	2,160	(1,580)
Loss before income taxes	(2,816)	(3,846)
Income tax (benefit) expense	(31)	(2,952)
Net loss	(2,785)	(894)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(17)	7
Net (loss) income attributable to controlling interests and available to common shareholders	(2,768)	(901)
Comprehensive income attributable to controlling interests	22,219	7,751
Eliminations
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income
Revenues	(2,819)	(2,534)
Operating costs and expenses	(2,819)	(2,533)
Income from operations		(1)
Interest expense (income), net, including amortization of deferred financing costs and note discount		(1)
Equity in (earnings) losses of subsidiaries	(20,613)	12,550
Other (income) expense	13,928	36,324
Loss before income taxes	6,685	(48,874)
Net loss	6,685	(48,874)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(17)	7
Net (loss) income attributable to controlling interests and available to common shareholders	6,702	(48,881)
Comprehensive income attributable to controlling interests	(18,123)	(57,532)
Parent [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income
Operating costs and expenses	5,535	5,899
Income from operations	(5,535)	(5,899)
Equity in (earnings) losses of subsidiaries	(1,780)	(4,744)
Other (income) expense	101	64
Loss before income taxes	(3,856)	(1,219)
Income tax (benefit) expense	(1,072)	(325)
Net loss	(2,784)	(894)
Net (loss) income attributable to controlling interests and available to common shareholders	(2,784)	(894)
Comprehensive income attributable to controlling interests	$ 22,199	7,758
Issuer | Cardtronics Delaware
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income
Ownership in subsidiary, as a percent	100.00%
Issuer | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income
Operating costs and expenses	$ (1)	9,718
Income from operations	1	(9,718)
Interest expense (income), net, including amortization of deferred financing costs and note discount	6,542	6,091
Equity in (earnings) losses of subsidiaries	8,078	(7,376)
Other (income) expense	135	(56)
Loss before income taxes	(14,754)	(8,377)
Income tax (benefit) expense	(1,653)	(6,144)
Net loss	(13,101)	(2,233)
Net (loss) income attributable to controlling interests and available to common shareholders	(13,101)	(2,233)
Comprehensive income attributable to controlling interests	(13,098)	(792)
Guarantors [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income
Revenues	233,809	257,169
Operating costs and expenses	212,030	236,818
Income from operations	21,779	20,351
Interest expense (income), net, including amortization of deferred financing costs and note discount	10,493	7,902
Equity in (earnings) losses of subsidiaries	14,315	(430)
Other (income) expense	(5,431)	(32,244)
Loss before income taxes	2,402	45,123
Income tax (benefit) expense	17	3,023
Net loss	2,385	42,100
Net (loss) income attributable to controlling interests and available to common shareholders	2,385	42,100
Comprehensive income attributable to controlling interests	11,534	44,730
Non-Guarantors [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income
Revenues	105,194	102,937
Operating costs and expenses	109,613	103,563
Income from operations	(4,419)	(626)
Interest expense (income), net, including amortization of deferred financing costs and note discount	(4,553)	(4,459)
Other (income) expense	(6,573)	(5,668)
Loss before income taxes	6,707	9,501
Income tax (benefit) expense	2,677	494
Net loss	4,030	9,007
Net (loss) income attributable to controlling interests and available to common shareholders	4,030	9,007
Comprehensive income attributable to controlling interests	$ 19,707	$ 13,587