Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
REVENUE
Commissions	$ 103,833	$ 109,695
Advisory fees	66,026	70,966
Investment banking	12,383	27,305
Interest	13,379	11,035
Principal transactions, net	1,531	18,555
Other	21,542	8,005
Total revenue	218,694	245,561
EXPENSES
Compensation and related expenses	151,413	163,091
Communications and technology	17,781	17,168
Occupancy and equipment costs	14,978	15,778
Clearing and exchange fees	6,921	6,402
Interest	5,088	3,910
Other	30,510	29,361
Total expenses	226,691	235,710
Income (loss) before income tax provision (benefit)	(7,997)	9,851
Income tax provision (benefit)	(4,088)	3,730
Net income (loss)	(3,909)	6,121
Less net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(62)	402
Net income (loss) attributable to Oppenheimer Holdings Inc.	$ (3,847)	$ 5,719
Earnings (loss) per share attributable to Oppenheimer Holdings Inc.
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (0.29)	$ 0.42
Diluted (in dollars per share)	(0.29)	0.40
Dividends declared per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.11	$ 0.11
Weighted average shares
Basic (in shares)	13,379,827	13,704,228
Diluted (in shares)	13,379,827	14,282,270