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]	Parent [Member]	Non-Controlling Interest [Member]
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2013		$ 60,198		$ 42,407	$ 418,204	$ 1,709		$ 5,353
Issuance of Class A non-voting common stock			1,918
Tax benefit from share-based awards				1,242
Share-based expense				1,600
Vested employee share plan awards				(3,896)
Net income for the period attributable to Oppenheimer Holdings Inc.	3,224				3,224
Dividends paid ($0.33 per share)					(1,486)
Currency translation adjustment	(87)					(87)
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest, net of tax	(196)							196
Balance at end of period at Mar. 31, 2014	530,582	62,116		41,353	419,942	1,622	525,033	5,549
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2014	533,732	62,397		45,118	421,047	(918)		6,088
Issuance of Class A non-voting common stock			2,889
Tax benefit from share-based awards				(321)
Share-based expense				898
Vested employee share plan awards				(4,572)
Net income for the period attributable to Oppenheimer Holdings Inc.	5,719				5,719
Dividends paid ($0.33 per share)					(1,511)
Currency translation adjustment	(567)					(567)
Total Oppenheimer Holdings Inc. stockholders' equity	530,179
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest, net of tax	(402)							402
Balance at end of period at Mar. 31, 2015	$ 536,669	$ 65,286		$ 41,123	$ 425,255	$ (1,485)	$ 530,179	$ 6,490