Aggregate of: (i) sales discounts given by the entity, including, but not limited to, early payments of accounts due, (ii) the total deduction from sales during the period arising from goods returned by customers (other than under warranty provisions), and (iii) price reductions (allowance, price protection agreements) given by the entity. Discounts, returns and allowances are a deduction from gross revenue in arriving at net revenue.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 605
-SubTopic 50
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68069731&loc=d3e63676-111659

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03(1)(a))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 605
-SubTopic 15
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68051624&loc=d3e47468-111626

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SalesDiscountsReturnsAndAllowancesGoods
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Aggregate revenue during the period from sale of goods in the normal course of business, before deducting returns, allowances and discounts.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1(a))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SalesRevenueGoodsGross
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Total revenue from sale of goods and services rendered during the reporting period, in the normal course of business, reduced by sales returns and allowances, and sales discounts.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SegmentReportingRevenueReconcilingItemLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis=mat_MattelGirlsAndBoysBrandsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis=mat_FisherPriceBrandsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis=mat_AmericanGirlBrandsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis=mat_ConstructionAndArtsAndCraftsBrandsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProductOrServiceAxis=mat_OtherWorldwideRevenueMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Segment Information - Worldwide Revenues by Brand Category (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Gross sales									$ 6,073,714	$ 6,283,628	$ 6,718,448
Sales adjustments									(617,064)	(581,015)	(694,629)
Net Sales	$ 1,834,400	$ 1,795,575	$ 957,276	$ 869,399	$ 1,999,744	$ 1,791,968	$ 988,152	$ 922,749	5,456,650	5,702,613	6,023,819
Mattel Girls & Boys Brands
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Gross sales									3,194,100	3,464,195	3,897,218
Fisher-Price Brands
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Gross sales									1,888,146	1,852,219	1,842,550
American Girl Brands
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Gross sales									570,770	571,957	618,678
Construction and Arts & Crafts Brands
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Gross sales									377,570	351,747	314,994
Other
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Gross sales									$ 43,128	$ 43,510	$ 45,008