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			$ 1,959
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 ($0.33 per share)					(2,984)
Currency translation adjustment	252					252
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	$ 523,757	5,850
Total Oppenheimer Holdings Inc. stockholders' equity	527,644
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			$ 3,139
Tax benefit from share-based awards				(270)
Share-based expense				2,362
Vested employee share plan awards				(4,822)
Net income for the period attributable to Oppenheimer Holdings Inc.	6,014				6,014
Dividends paid ($0.33 per share)					(3,023)
Currency translation adjustment	750					750
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest, net of tax	(752)							752
Balance at end of period at Jun. 30, 2015	538,634	$ 65,536		$ 42,388	$ 424,038	$ (168)	$ 531,794	$ 6,840
Total Oppenheimer Holdings Inc. stockholders' equity	$ 531,794