CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' DEFICIT (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Total	Common Stock Common Class A	Common Stock Common Class B	Share Capital to Be Issued	Additional Paid-in Capital	Charges in Excess of Capital	Accumulated Deficit	Stock Subscription Receivable	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Parent	Noncontrolling Interest
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		49,092,426	3,755
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013				42,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net loss attributable to MDC Partners	7,624	0	0	0	0	0	7,624	0	0	7,624	0
Other Comprehensive income (loss)	759	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	(346)	(346)	1,105
Issuance of restricted stock	0	5,585	0	0	(5,585)	0	0	0	0	0	0
Issuance of restricted stock (in shares)		584,686	0	0
Shares acquired and cancelled	(3,541)	(3,541)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	(3,541)	0
Shares acquired and cancelled (in shares)		(133,071)	0	0
Stock-based compensation	4,511	0	0	0	4,511	0	0	0	0	4,511	0
Changes in redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interests	(17,974)	0	0	0	(17,974)	0	0	0	0	(17,974)	0
Changes in noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interest from step-up transactions	(10,364)	0	0	0	(6,238)	0	0	0	0	(6,238)	(4,126)
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	(17,993)	0	0	0	(17,993)	0	0	0	0	(17,993)	0
Shares, Other		42,000		(42,000)
Other	54	915	0	(424)	(437)					54	0
Transfer to charges in excess of capital	0	0	0	0	43,716	(43,716)	0	0	0	0	0
Balance at Jun. 30, 2014	$ (252,019)	$ 265,614	$ 1	$ 0	$ 0	$ (170,068)	$ (457,952)	$ (55)	$ (1,143)	$ (363,603)	$ 111,584
Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2014		49,586,042	3,755
Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2014				0