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
Total stockholders' equity	$ 408,971	$ 3,342	$ 0	$ 57,120	$ 378,787	$ (30,278)	$ 0
Total stockholders' equity	408,971	$ 3,342	$ 0	57,120	378,787	(30,278)	0
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015		33,416,110	0
Beginning 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)
Cancellation of treasury shares (in shares)		0	0
Cancellation of treasury shares	0		$ 0	0
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
Total stockholders' equity	438,636	3,209	0	0	457,364	(33,677)	11,740
Total stockholders' equity	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	$ 0		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
Total stockholders' equity	533,759	3,148	0	1,410	510,975	(24,023)	42,249
Total stockholders' equity	533,759	$ 3,148	$ 0	1,410	510,975	(24,023)	42,249
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Effect of Adoption, Quantification	(8,800)
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Effect of Adoption, Quantification | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606 [Member]	(8,714)				(8,714)
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Effect of Adoption, Quantification | ASC 340-40	(1,446)				(1,446)
Net income attributable to Ebix, Inc.	93,139				93,139
Net income attributable to noncontrolling	(58)						(58)
Cumulative translation adjustment	(39,354)					(39,354)
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		27,999
Exercise of stock options	439	$ 3		436
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)		(996,773)
Repurchase of common stock	(49,620)	$ (100)		0	(49,520)
Deferred compensation and amortization related to options and restricted stock	2,811			2,811
Vesting of restricted stock (in shares)		68,946
Vesting of restricted stock	$ 0	$ 6		(6)
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)	(8,875)	(8,875)
Forfeiture of certain shares to satisfy exercise costs and the recipients income tax obligations related to stock options exercised and restricted stock vested	$ (467)	$ 0		(467)
Recognized controlling ownership of joint venture	23,264			(787)			24,051
Dividends paid	(9,316)				(9,316)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018		30,567,725	0
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	544,437	$ 3,057	$ 0	3,397	535,118	(63,377)	66,242
Total stockholders' equity	$ 544,437	$ 3,057	$ 0	$ 3,397	$ 535,118	$ (63,377)	$ 66,242