Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income (loss)	$ (3,909)	$ 6,121
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Currency translation adjustment	873	(567)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(3,036)	5,554
Less net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(62)	402
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Oppenheimer Holdings Inc.	$ (2,974)	$ 5,152

Amount after tax of increase (decrease) in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from net income and other comprehensive income, attributable to parent entity. Excludes changes in equity resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Other Comprehensive Income
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51831270

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Comprehensive Income
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51831223

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36458714&loc=d3e557-108580

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51831255

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Amount after tax of increase (decrease) in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from net income and other comprehensive income. Excludes changes in equity resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners.

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Amount of Net Income (Loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest.

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Amount after tax and reclassification adjustments of gain (loss) on foreign currency translation adjustments, foreign currency transactions designated and effective as economic hedges of a net investment in a foreign entity and intra-entity foreign currency transactions that are of a long-term-investment nature.

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-Paragraph 20
-Subparagraph (b,c)
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The consolidated profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, including the portion attributable to the noncontrolling interest.

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