Consolidated Statements Of Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Total		Common Stock	Additional paid-in capital	Retained earnings	Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	Treasury shares, at cost
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2013		$ 1,082,423		$ 3,024	$ 150,833	$ 1,017,981	$ 4,649	$ (94,064)
Beginning Balance, in shares, at Dec. 31, 2013				(30,235,164)				(2,224,902)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Shares issued under stock-based plans		0						$ 5,836
Shares issued under stock-based plans, in shares								135,046
Adjustments to APIC, stock-based plans					(5,836)
Stock-based compensation expense		4,825			4,825
Income tax benefit from stock-based compensation		(110)			(110)
Adjustments to APIC, Equity Component of Convertible Debt		(30,267)			(61,994)			$ 31,727
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Conversion of Convertible Securities								747,085
Net Income attributable to Cash America International, Inc.		76,624				76,624
Dividends paid		(2,976)				(2,976)
Foreign currency translation gain (loss), net of tax		(2,576)	[1]				(2,576)
Marketable Securities		0
Purchases of treasury shares, in shares								(36,574)
Purchases of treasury shares		(1,410)						$ (1,410)
Balance at Sep. 30, 2014		1,126,533		$ 3,024	87,718	1,091,629	2,073	$ (57,911)
Balance, in shares, at Sep. 30, 2014				(30,235,164)				(1,379,345)
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2014		1,133,202		$ 3,024	86,388	1,030,387	71,959	$ (58,556)
Beginning Balance, in shares, at Dec. 31, 2014				(30,235,164)				(1,428,495)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Shares issued under stock-based plans		(1,604)						$ 4,292
Shares issued under stock-based plans, in shares								112,757
Adjustments to APIC, stock-based plans					(5,896)
Stock-based compensation expense		4,728			4,728
Income tax benefit from stock-based compensation		255			255
Net Income attributable to Cash America International, Inc.		14,954				14,954
Dividends paid		(4,123)				(4,123)
Foreign currency translation gain (loss), net of tax	[1]	0
Marketable Securities		(41,899)					(41,899)
Purchases of treasury shares, in shares								(3,289,198)
Purchases of treasury shares		(81,344)						$ (81,344)
Balance at Sep. 30, 2015		$ 1,024,169		$ 3,024	$ 85,475	$ 1,041,218	$ 30,060	$ (135,608)
Balance, in shares, at Sep. 30, 2015				(30,235,164)				(4,604,936)

[1] (a) Net of tax benefit of $15,198 and $23,085 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively.