Loss Per Share - Calculation of Basic and Diluted Net Loss Per Unit (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended								8 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Numerator:
Net loss		$ (125,740)	$ (92,244)	$ (64,059)	$ (82,596)	$ (86,404)	$ (64,419)	$ (51,250)	$ (52,672)	$ (114,374)	$ (364,639)	$ (254,745)	$ (164,316)
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interests											249,980	199,269	146,003
Dividends on Class A convertible preferred stock											0	(4,206)	(413)
Accretion of beneficial conversion feature on Class A convertible preferred stock											0	1,380	1,237
Net loss attributable to Carvana Co. Class A common stockholders, basic and diluted											$ (114,659)	$ (61,062)	$ (19,963)
Denominator:
Nonvested weighted-average restricted stock awards (in shares)											(232)	(319)	(276)
Net loss per share of Class A common stock, basic and diluted (in dollars per share)		$ (0.82)	$ (0.60)	$ (0.44)	$ (0.56)	$ (0.58)	$ (0.50)	$ (0.41)	$ (0.53)
Class A
Denominator:
Weighted-average shares of Class A common stock to compute basic and diluted net loss per Class A common share (in shares)	[1],[2]										46,847	30,043	15,241
Net loss per share of Class A common stock, basic and diluted (in dollars per share)	[1]										$ (2.45)	$ (2.03)	$ (1.31)
Class A Units
Denominator:
Weighted-average shares of Class A common stock outstanding (in shares)											47,079	30,362	15,517

[1] Amounts for periods prior to the initial public offering have been retrospectively adjusted to give effect to 15.0 million shares of Class A common stock issued in the initial public offering and the Organizational Transactions described in Note 1.

[2] Weighted-average shares of Class A common stock outstanding have been adjusted for unvested restricted stock awards.