Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity (USD $) In Thousands	Total	Share Capital [Member]	Share Capital [Member] Class A Stock [Member]	Contributed Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	Non-Controlling Interest [Member]
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2012		$ 62,181		$ 39,231	$ 399,121	$ 207	$ 4,261
Issuance of Class A non-voting common stock			0
Repurchase of Class A non-voting common stock for cancellation			(208)
Tax benefit from share-based awards				0
Share-based expense				2,508
Vested employee share plan awards				0
Net income for the period attributable to Oppenheimer Holdings Inc.	6,511				6,511
Dividends paid ($0.22 per share)					(2,994)
Currency translation adjustment	500
Total Oppenheimer Holdings Inc. stockholders' equity						507,057
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest, net of tax	(448)						448
Balance at end of period at Jun. 30, 2013	511,766	61,973		41,739	402,638	707	4,709
Balance at beginning of period at Mar. 31, 2013
Net income for the period attributable to Oppenheimer Holdings Inc.	2,848
Currency translation adjustment	49
Total Oppenheimer Holdings Inc. stockholders' equity						507,057
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest, net of tax	(218)
Balance at end of period at Jun. 30, 2013	511,766	61,973				707
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2013	527,871	60,198		42,407	418,204	1,709	5,353
Issuance of Class A non-voting common stock			1,959
Repurchase of Class A non-voting common stock for cancellation			0
Tax benefit from share-based awards				1,254
Share-based expense				3,025
Vested employee share plan awards				(3,937)
Net income for the period attributable to Oppenheimer Holdings Inc.	1,670				1,670
Dividends paid ($0.22 per share)					(2,984)
Currency translation adjustment	252
Total Oppenheimer Holdings Inc. stockholders' equity	523,757					523,757
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest, net of tax	(497)						497
Balance at end of period at Jun. 30, 2014	529,607	62,157		42,749	416,890	1,961	5,850
Balance at beginning of period at Mar. 31, 2014
Net income for the period attributable to Oppenheimer Holdings Inc.	(1,554)
Currency translation adjustment	339
Total Oppenheimer Holdings Inc. stockholders' equity	523,757					523,757
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest, net of tax	(301)
Balance at end of period at Jun. 30, 2014	$ 529,607	$ 62,157				$ 1,961