Cover Page - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Feb. 25, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Document Annual Report	true
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2020
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-37820
Entity Registrant Name	Cardtronics plc
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	X0
Entity Tax Identification Number	98-1304627
Entity Address, Address Line One	2050 West Sam Houston Parkway South, Suite 1300
Entity Address, City or Town	Houston
Entity Address, State or Province	TX
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	77042
City Area Code	832
Local Phone Number	308-4000
Title of 12(b) Security	Ordinary Shares, nominal value $0.01 per share
Trading Symbol	CATM
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
ICFR Auditor Attestation Flag	true
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 847,929,179
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		45,164,937
Documents Incorporated by Reference	Portions of our definitive proxy statement for the 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days of December 31, 2020, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Entity Central Index Key	0001671013