Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
Operating revenue	$ 363,971	$ 298,294	$ 265,482
Operating expenses:
Costs of services provided	129,494	85,128	72,437
Product development	33,854	32,981	30,702
Sales and marketing	16,303	17,469	14,917
General and administrative	59,976	51,689	48,078
Amortization and depreciation	11,123	10,746	10,634
Total operating expenses	250,750	198,013	176,768
Operating income	113,221	100,281	88,714
Interest income	1,711	1,851	231
Interest expense	(13,383)	(7,376)	(4,311)
Non-operating income (see Note 17)	0	1,162	0
Foreign currency exchange gain	1,811	13	2,005
Income before income taxes	103,360	95,931	86,639
Income tax provision	(777)	(1,637)	(7,106)
Net income including noncontrolling interest	102,583	94,294	79,533
Net income attributable to noncontrolling	1,965	447	0
Net income attributable to Ebix, Inc.	$ 100,618	$ 93,847	$ 79,533
Basic earnings per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 3.19	$ 2.88	$ 2.29
Diluted earnings per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 3.17	$ 2.86	$ 2.28
Basic weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	31,552	32,603	34,668
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	31,719	32,863	34,901