UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Revenue:
Services	$ 327,742	$ 328,791
Operating expenses:
Cost of services sold	222,693	237,153
Office and general expenses	66,353	67,118
Depreciation and amortization	9,206	8,838
Other asset impairment	161	0
Costs and Expenses, Total	298,413	313,109
Operating income	29,329	15,682
Other income (expense):
Interest expense and finance charges, net	(15,612)	(16,760)
Other, net	16,334	(3,383)
Foreign exchange gain (loss)	(14,757)	5,442
Nonoperating Income (Expense), Total	(14,035)	(14,701)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings of non-consolidated affiliates	15,294	981
Income tax expense	13,500	748
Income before equity in earnings of non-consolidated affiliates	1,794	233
Equity in earnings of non-consolidated affiliates	0	83
Net income	1,794	316
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest	(791)	(429)
Net income (loss) attributable to MDC Partners Inc.	1,003	(113)
Net loss attributable to MDC Partners Inc. common shareholders	$ (2,437)	$ (2,496)
Basic and diluted
Earnings per share, basic	$ (0.03)	$ (0.04)
Earnings per share, diluted	$ (0.03)	$ (0.04)
Weighted Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding:
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic	72,397,661	60,258,102
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted	72,397,661	60,258,102
Series 4 Convertible Preferred Stock [Domain] | Preferred Stock
Other income (expense):
Accretion on and net income allocated to convertible preference shares	$ (3,440)	$ (2,383)