Consolidated Statements Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Treasury Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Noncontrol-ling interest
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014		36,232,074	40,509
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 432,221	$ 3,619	$ (76)	$ 137,101	$ 309,726	$ (18,149)	$ 0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to Ebix, Inc.	79,533				79,533
Net income attributable to noncontrolling	0
Cumulative translation adjustment	(12,129)					(12,129)
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		109,122
Exercise of stock options	2,209	$ 11		2,198
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)		(2,924,306)
Repurchase of common stock	(82,473)	$ (293)		(82,180)
Deferred compensation and amortization related to options and restricted stock	1,821			1,821
APIC adjustment for stock options	463			463
Vesting of restricted stock (in shares)		108,797
Vesting of restricted stock	0	$ 12		(12)
Forfeiture of certain shares to satisfy exercise costs and the recipients income tax obligations related to stock options exercised and restricted stock vested (in shares)		(69,068)
Forfeiture of certain shares to satisfy exercise costs and the recipients income tax obligations related to stock options exercised and restricted stock vested	(2,202)	$ (7)		(2,195)
Cancellation of treasury shares (in shares)		(40,509)	40,509
Cancellation of treasury shares	0		$ 76	(76)
Dividends paid	(10,472)				(10,472)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015		33,416,110	0
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	408,971	$ 3,342	$ 0	57,120	378,787	(30,278)	0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to Ebix, Inc.	93,847				93,847
Net income attributable to noncontrolling	447						447
Cumulative translation adjustment	(3,399)					(3,399)
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		72,379
Exercise of stock options	824	$ 7		817
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)		(1,479,454)
Repurchase of common stock	(65,314)	$ (148)		(59,725)	(5,441)
Deferred compensation and amortization related to options and restricted stock	2,794			2,794
Vesting of restricted stock (in shares)		101,444
Vesting of restricted stock	$ 0	$ 11		(11)
Forfeiture of certain shares to satisfy exercise costs and the recipients income tax obligations related to stock options exercised and restricted stock vested (in shares)	(17,185)	(17,185)
Forfeiture of certain shares to satisfy exercise costs and the recipients income tax obligations related to stock options exercised and restricted stock vested	$ (998)	$ (3)		(995)
Recognized controlling ownership of joint venture	11,293						11,293
Dividends paid	(9,829)				(9,829)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016		32,093,294	0
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	438,636	$ 3,209	$ 0	0	457,364	(33,677)	11,740
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to Ebix, Inc.	100,618				100,618
Net income attributable to noncontrolling	1,965						1,965
Cumulative translation adjustment	9,654					9,654
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		3,500
Exercise of stock options	52			52
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)		(687,048)
Repurchase of common stock	(39,382)	$ (68)		(1,852)	(37,462)
Deferred compensation and amortization related to options and restricted stock	2,818			2,818
Vesting of restricted stock (in shares)		72,816
Vesting of restricted stock	$ 0	$ 7		(7)
Forfeiture of certain shares to satisfy exercise costs and the recipients income tax obligations related to stock options exercised and restricted stock vested (in shares)	(6,134)	(6,134)
Forfeiture of certain shares to satisfy exercise costs and the recipients income tax obligations related to stock options exercised and restricted stock vested	$ (398)	$ 0		(398)
Recognized controlling ownership of joint venture	27,778						27,778
Loans by non-controlling interest converted to capital contribution to joint venture	1,563			(797)			766
Dividends paid	(9,545)				(9,545)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017		31,476,428	0
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 533,759	$ 3,148	$ 0	$ 1,410	$ 510,975	$ (24,023)	$ 42,249