CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' DEFICIT - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Class A	Series 4 Convertible Preferred Stock [Domain]	Convertible Preferred Stock [Member] Series 4 Convertible Preferred Stock [Domain]	Common Stock	Common Stock Common Class A	Common Stock Common Class B	Share Capital To Be Issued [Member]	Share Capital To Be Issued [Member] Common Class A	Additional Paid-in Capital	Charges in Excess of Capital	Accumulated Deficit	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Parent [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Common Stock, Value, Issued		$ 317,784
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Common Stock, Shares, To be Issued								100,000
Common Stock, Value, To be Issued								$ 2,360	$ 2,360
Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ (509,476)			$ 0	$ 317,784					$ 0	$ (311,581)	$ (581,848)	$ (1,824)	$ (575,109)	$ 65,633
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016				0	52,802,058	52,798,303	3,755
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net loss attributable to MDC Partners Inc.	(10,566)											(10,566)		(10,566)	0
Other Comprehensive income (loss)	68												(197)	(197)	265
Issuance of restricted stock	$ 0				$ 262					(262)				$ 0
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues	90,220,000		95,000	95,000										90,220,000
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Convertible Preferred Shares				$ 90,220
Deferred acquisition consideration settled through issuance of shares	$ 4,153				$ 5,028					1,485				$ 4,153
Stock Authorized During Period, Shares, To be Issued								(100,000)
Stock Authorized During Period, Value, To be Issued								$ (2,360)
Issuance of restricted stock (in shares)					17,000
Shares acquired and cancelled	(51)				$ (51)									(51)
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues					568,182
Shares acquired and cancelled (in shares)					(5,548)
Stock-based compensation	1,682									1,682				1,682
Temporary Equity, Accretion to Redemption Value	(195)									(195)				(195)
Noncontrolling Interest, Increase from Business Combination	63									63				63
Transfer to charges in excess of capital										(2,773)	2,773
Balance at Mar. 31, 2017	$ (424,102)			$ 90,220						$ 0	$ (308,808)	$ (592,414)	$ (2,021)	$ (490,000)	$ 65,898
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2017				95,000	53,381,692	53,377,937	3,755
Common Stock, Value, Issued		$ 323,023			$ 323,023
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Common Stock, Shares, To be Issued								0
Common Stock, Value, To be Issued								$ 0	$ 0