Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total		Share Capital	Share Capital Class A Stock	Contributed Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Parent	Non-Controlling Interest
Balance at beginning of year at Dec. 31, 2013			$ 60,198		$ 42,407	$ 418,204	$ 1,709		$ 5,353
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of Class A non-voting common stock				$ 2,199
Repurchase of Class A non-voting common stock for cancellation				0
Excess tax benefit (deficiency) from share-based awards					1,194
Share-based expense					5,694
Vested employee share plan awards					(4,177)
Net income (loss) attributable to Oppenheimer Holdings Inc.	$ 8,826					8,826		$ 8,826
Dividends paid ($0.44 per share for the years 2012, 2013 & 2014)						(5,983)
Dividends received from noncontrolling interest						0
Currency translation adjustment	(2,627)	[1]					(2,627)
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interest, net of tax	735							0	735
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interest	0								0
Dividends paid to parent									0
Balance at end of year at Dec. 31, 2014	533,732		62,397		45,118	421,047	(918)	527,644	6,088
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of Class A non-voting common stock				3,373
Repurchase of Class A non-voting common stock for cancellation				(8,250)
Excess tax benefit (deficiency) from share-based awards					(277)
Share-based expense					4,653
Vested employee share plan awards					(5,056)
Net income (loss) attributable to Oppenheimer Holdings Inc.	1,962					1,962		1,962
Dividends paid ($0.44 per share for the years 2012, 2013 & 2014)						(6,008)
Dividends received from noncontrolling interest						0
Currency translation adjustment	17	[1]					17
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interest, net of tax	936							0	936
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interest	0								0
Dividends paid to parent									0
Balance at end of year at Dec. 31, 2015	525,082		57,520		44,438	417,001	(901)	518,058	7,024
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of Class A non-voting common stock				5,776
Repurchase of Class A non-voting common stock for cancellation				$ (3,935)
Excess tax benefit (deficiency) from share-based awards					(740)
Share-based expense					5,184
Vested employee share plan awards					(7,117)
Net income (loss) attributable to Oppenheimer Holdings Inc.	(1,161)					(1,161)		(1,161)
Dividends paid ($0.44 per share for the years 2012, 2013 & 2014)						(5,887)
Dividends received from noncontrolling interest						305
Currency translation adjustment	220	[1]					220
Less net income attributable to noncontrolling interest, net of tax	1,652							0	1,652
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interest	5,740							0	(5,740)
Dividends paid to parent									(305)
Balance at end of year at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 513,334		$ 59,361		$ 41,765	$ 410,258	$ (681)	$ 510,703	$ 2,631

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