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, 2014			$ 62,397		$ 45,118	$ 421,047	$ (918)		$ 6,088
Issuance of Class A non-voting common stock				$ 3,139
Repurchase of Class A non-voting common stock for cancellation				0
Tax deficiency from share-based awards					(270)
Share-based expense					2,362
Vested employee share plan awards					(4,822)
Net income attributable to Oppenheimer Holdings Inc.	$ 6,014	[1]				6,014
Dividends paid ($0.22 per share)						(3,023)
Preferred dividends received						0			0
Currency translation adjustment	750	[2]					750
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(752)	[1]							752
Balance at end of period at Jun. 30, 2015	538,634		65,536		42,388	424,038	(168)	$ 531,794	6,840
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2014			62,397		45,118	421,047	(918)		6,088
Balance at end of period at Dec. 31, 2015	525,082		57,520		44,438	417,001	(901)		7,024
Issuance of Class A non-voting common stock				5,584
Repurchase of Class A non-voting common stock for cancellation				$ 3,798
Tax deficiency from share-based awards					(747)
Share-based expense					2,842
Vested employee share plan awards					(6,925)
Net income attributable to Oppenheimer Holdings Inc.	1,341					1,341
Dividends paid ($0.22 per share)						(2,947)
Preferred dividends received						285			(285)
Currency translation adjustment	219	[2]					219
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(1,461)								1,461
Balance at end of period at Jun. 30, 2016	$ 522,112		$ 59,306		$ 39,608	$ 415,680	$ (682)	$ 513,912	$ 8,200

[1] Amounts have been recast to reflect discontinued operations. See Note 3 for details.

[2] Total other comprehensive income (loss) is attributable to Oppenheimer Holdings Inc. No other comprehensive income (loss) is attributable to noncontrolling interests.