CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' 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, 2013	$ (276,612)	$ 262,655	$ 1	$ 424	$ 0	$ (126,352)	$ (465,576)	$ (55)	$ (797)	$ (329,700)	$ 53,088
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013		49,092,427	3,755
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013				42,000
Net loss attributable to MDC Partners	(8,846)	0	0	0	0	0	(8,846)	0	0	(8,846)	0
Other Comprehensive income (loss)	1,742	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1,994	1,994	(252)
Issuance of restricted stock	0	4,523	0	0	(4,523)	0	0	0	0	0	0
Issuance of restricted stock (in shares)		501,326	0	0
Shares acquired and cancelled	(3,103)	(3,103)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	(3,103)	0
Shares acquired and cancelled (in shares)		(117,348)	0	0
Stock-based compensation	2,247	0	0	0	2,247	0	0	0	0	2,247	0
Changes in redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interests	(9,336)	0	0	0	(9,336)	0	0	0	0	(9,336)	0
Changes in noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interest from step-up transactions	(8,749)	0	0	0	(4,798)	0	0	0	0	(4,798)	(3,951)
Increase in noncontrolling interests from business acquisitions	61,517	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	61,517
Dividends paid and to be paid	(8,899)	0	0	0	(8,899)	0	0	0	0	(8,899)	0
Transfer to charges in excess of capital	0	0	0	0	25,309	(25,309)	0	0	0	0	0
Balance at Mar. 31, 2014	$ (250,039)	$ 264,075	$ 1	$ 424	$ 0	$ (151,661)	$ (474,422)	$ (55)	$ 1,197	$ (360,441)	$ 110,402
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2014		49,476,405	3,755
Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2014				42,000