CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Revenue:
Services	$ 1,415,803	$ 1,476,203	$ 1,513,779
Operating expenses:
Cost of services sold	961,076	991,198	1,023,476
Office and general expenses	328,339	349,056	310,455
Depreciation and amortization	38,329	46,196	43,474
Goodwill and other asset impairment	7,819	80,057	4,415
Costs and Expenses, Total	1,335,563	1,466,507	1,381,820
Operating income	80,240	9,696	131,959
Other income (expense):
Interest expense and finance charges, net	(64,942)	(67,075)
Interest Expense, Other			64,364
Other, net	(2,401)	230	1,346
Foreign exchange gain (loss)	8,750	(23,258)	18,137
Nonoperating Income (Expense), Total	(58,593)	(90,103)	(44,881)
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings of non-consolidated affiliates	21,647	(80,407)	87,078
Income tax expense (benefit)	10,533	31,603	(168,064)
Income (loss) before equity in earnings of non-consolidated affiliates	11,114	(112,010)	255,142
Equity in earnings of non-consolidated affiliates	352	62	2,081
Net income (loss)	11,466	(111,948)	257,223
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest			257,223
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest	(16,156)	(11,785)	(15,375)
Net income (loss) attributable to MDC Partners Inc.	(4,690)	(123,733)	241,848
Net income (loss) attributable to MDC Partners Inc. common shareholders	$ (16,994)	$ (132,088)	$ 205,594
Basic and diluted
Earnings per share, basic	$ (0.25)	$ (2.31)	$ 3.72
Earnings per share, diluted	$ (0.25)	$ (2.31)	$ 3.71
Weighted Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding:
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic	69,132,100	57,218,994	55,255,797
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted	69,132,100	57,218,994	55,481,786
Stock-based compensation	$ 31,040	$ 18,416	$ 24,350
Cost of services sold
Weighted Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding:
Stock-based compensation	29,160	12,513	19,015
Office and general expenses
Weighted Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding:
Stock-based compensation	$ 1,880	5,903	5,335
Series 4 Convertible Preferred Stock [Domain] | Convertible Preference Shares
Other income (expense):
Accretion on and net income allocated to convertible preference shares		$ 8,355	$ 36,254