CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data	Total	Common Stock [Member] Common Class A [Member]	Common Stock [Member] Common Class B [Member]	Share Capital to be Issued [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Charges in Excess of Capital [Member]	Accumulated Deficit [Member]	Stock Subscription Receivable [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Parent [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ (84,810)	$ 253,869	$ 1	$ 424	$ 0	$ (72,913)	$ (316,713)	$ (55)	$ (7,445)	$ (142,832)	$ 58,022
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012		31,074,168	2,503
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012				28,000
Net loss attributable to MDC Partners	(54,542)	0	0	0	0	0	(54,542)	0	0	(54,542)	0
Other Comprehensive income (loss)	(857)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	(851)	(851)	(6)
Stock Appreciation Rights Exercised	0	387	0	0	(387)	0	0	0	0	0	0
Stock Appreciation Rights Exercised (in shares)		147,589	0	0
Issuance of restricted stock	0	5,766	0	0	(5,766)	0	0	0	0	0	0
Issuance of restricted stock (in shares)		416,151	0	0
Shares acquired and cancelled	(5,011)	(5,011)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	(5,011)	0
Shares acquired and cancelled (in shares)		(172,185)	0	0
Stock-based compensation	10,349	0	0	0	10,349	0	0	0	0	10,349	0
Changes in redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interests	(25,009)	0	0	0	(25,009)	0	0	0	0	(25,009)	0
Increase in noncontrolling interests from business combinations	(4,666)	0	0	0	11,347	0	0	0	0	11,347	(16,013)
Dividends paid and to be paid	(14,735)	0	0	0	(14,735)	0	0	0	0	(14,735)	0
Other	561	0	0	0	561	0	0	0	0	561	0
Transfer to charges in excess of capital	0	0	0	0	23,640	(23,640)	0	0	0	0	0
Balance at Sep. 30, 2013	$ (178,720)	$ 255,011	$ 1	$ 424	$ 0	$ (96,553)	$ (371,255)	$ (55)	$ (8,296)	$ (220,723)	$ 42,003
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2013		31,465,723	2,503
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2013				28,000