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)
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		$ 53,392		$ 41,776	$ 449,989	$ 165
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of Class A non-voting common stock			$ 1,162
Repurchase of Class A non-voting common stock for cancellation			(6,352)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	$ 23,569				23,569
Share-based expense				4,026
Vested employee share plan awards				(2,176)
Dividends paid					$ (2,865)
Currency translation adjustment	924					924
Dividends					$ 0.22
Stockholders' equity attributable to Oppenheimer Holdings Inc.		52,519		41,489	$ 459,751	728
Issuance of Class A non-voting common stock			0
Repurchase of Class A non-voting common stock for cancellation			(4,317)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	12,375				12,375
Share-based expense				2,137
Vested employee share plan awards				0
Dividends paid					$ (1,433)
Currency translation adjustment	361					361
Dividends					$ 0.11
Stockholders' equity attributable to Oppenheimer Holdings Inc.	563,610	48,202		43,626	$ 470,693	1,089
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	563,610	48,202		43,626	470,693	1,089
Stockholders' equity attributable to Oppenheimer Holdings Inc.	592,722
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		46,557		47,406	496,998	1,761
Issuance of Class A non-voting common stock			6,626
Repurchase of Class A non-voting common stock for cancellation			(12,266)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	25,467
Share-based expense				3,819
Vested employee share plan awards				(12,085)
Dividends paid					$ (3,089)
Currency translation adjustment	(57)					(57)
Dividends					$ 0.24
Stockholders' equity attributable to Oppenheimer Holdings Inc.		44,306		37,945	$ 503,255	1,224
Issuance of Class A non-voting common stock			443
Repurchase of Class A non-voting common stock for cancellation			$ (3,832)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	17,649
Share-based expense				1,757
Vested employee share plan awards				(562)
Dividends paid					$ (1,528)
Currency translation adjustment	480					480
Dividends					$ 0.12
Stockholders' equity attributable to Oppenheimer Holdings Inc.	601,137	40,917		39,140	$ 519,376	1,704
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	$ 601,137	$ 40,917		$ 39,140	$ 519,376	$ 1,704