Document And Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Feb. 21, 2020	Jun. 28, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Document Information [Line Items]
Trading Symbol	MDCA
Entity Registrant Name	MDC PARTNERS INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000876883
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Document Type	10-K
Entity Small Business	true
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Public Float			$ 140.7
Common Class A
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		72,166,854
Common Class B
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		3,749
Common Shares | Common Class A
Document Information [Line Items]
Shares outstanding (shares)	72,150,854			57,517,568
Common Shares | Common Class B
Document Information [Line Items]
Shares outstanding (shares)	3,749			3,755	3,755