CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Revenue:
Services	$ 328,415	$ 309,391	$ 967,243	$ 883,601
Operating Expenses:
Cost of services sold	212,925	205,549	648,386	575,892
Office and general expenses	78,786	70,815	206,169	213,587
Depreciation and amortization	13,086	11,684	39,393	32,083
Costs and Expenses, Total	304,797	288,048	893,948	821,562
Operating profit	23,618	21,343	73,295	62,039
Other Income (Expense):
Other, net	(15,623)	(9,641)	(29,315)	(8,648)
Interest expense and finance charges	(14,638)	(14,022)	(43,022)	(40,663)
Interest income	114	105	338	287
Nonoperating Income (Expense), Total	(30,147)	(23,558)	(71,999)	(49,024)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in non-consolidated affiliates	(6,529)	(2,215)	1,296	13,015
Income tax expense (benefit)	(1,191)	(266)	(566)	2,764
Income (loss) from continuing operations before equity in non-consolidated affiliates	(5,338)	(1,949)	1,862	10,251
Equity in earnings of non-consolidated affiliates	172	81	627	223
Income from continuing operations	(5,166)	(1,868)	2,489	10,474
Loss from discontinued operations attributable to MDC Partners Inc., net of taxes	(1,316)	(1,369)	(6,281)	(2,976)
Net income (loss)	(6,482)	(3,237)	(3,792)	7,498
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	(2,122)	(1,685)	(7,343)	(4,796)
Net income (loss) attributable to MDC Partners Inc.	$ (8,604)	$ (4,922)	$ (11,135)	$ 2,702
Basic
Loss from continuing operations attributable to MDC Partners Inc. common shareholders (usd per share)	$ (0.15)	$ (0.07)	$ (0.10)	$ 0.11
Discontinued operations attributable to MDC Partners Inc. common shareholders (usd per share)	(0.02)	(0.03)	(0.12)	(0.06)
Net loss attributable to MDC Partners Inc. common shareholders (usd per share)	(0.17)	(0.10)	(0.22)	0.05
Earnings Per Share, Diluted	$ (0.17)	$ (0.10)	$ (0.22)	$ 0.05
Weighted Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding:
Basic (USD per share)	49,915,807	49,630,532	49,843,980	49,506,427
Diluted (USD per share)	49,915,807	49,630,532	49,843,980	50,134,263
Share-based Compensation [Abstract]
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations and Disposal of Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Diluted Share	$ (0.02)	$ (0.03)	$ (0.12)	$ (0.06)
Cost of services sold	$ 1,727	$ 1,516	$ 8,415	$ 6,270
Office and general expenses	1,539	1,921	4,610	5,963
Total	$ 3,266	$ 3,437	$ 13,025	$ 12,233