CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Proceeds from (Repayments of) Lines of Credit	$ 85,276	$ 0
Payments of Financing Costs	0	2,376
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	(3,792)	7,498
Loss from discontinued operations attributable to MDC Partners Inc., net of taxes	(6,281)	(2,976)
Income from continuing operations	2,489	10,474
Stock-based compensation	13,025	12,233
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) from continuing operations to cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Depreciation	13,666	11,966
Amortization of intangibles	25,727	20,117
Amortization of deferred finance charges and debt discount	1,702	1,704
Adjustment to deferred acquisition consideration	(3,866)	16,129
Deferred income tax	(1,020)	3,237
Earnings of non-consolidated affiliates	(627)	(223)
Other non-current assets and liabilities	3,930	(11,110)
Foreign exchange	24,739	7,961
Changes in working capital:
Accounts receivable	(63,134)	(55,066)
Expenditures billable to clients	(16,582)	(38,944)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(1,371)	(5,112)
Accounts payable, accruals and other liabilities	(84)	14,152
Advance billings	(7,741)	51,437
Cash flows (used in) provided by continuing operating activities	(9,147)	38,955
Discontinued operations	(1,342)	(3,571)
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(10,489)	35,384
Cash flows used in investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(17,665)	(18,678)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(21,050)	(57,728)
Proceeds from sale of assets	21	77
Other investments	(6,507)	(3,740)
Distributions from non-consolidated affiliates	2,478	2,802
Cash flows used in continuing investing activities	(42,723)	(77,267)
Discontinued operations	17,101	(1,956)
Net cash used in investing activities	(25,622)	(79,223)
Cash flows used in financing activities:
Acquisition related payments	(132,997)	(71,255)
Repayment of long-term debt	(397)	(340)
Purchase of shares	(1,792)	(4,791)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(9,462)	(6,014)
Proceeds from Stock Options Exercised	224	0
Cash overdrafts	27,207	18,364
Payment of dividends	(31,692)	(28,054)
Proceeds from (Payments for) Other Financing Activities	0	57
Cash flows used in continuing financing activities	(63,633)	(15,472)
Discontinued operations	(40)	(40)
Net cash used in financing activities	(63,673)	(15,512)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	2,194	(194)
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(97,590)	(59,545)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	113,348	102,007
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	15,758	42,462
Supplemental disclosures:
Cash income taxes paid	1,400	359
Cash interest paid	26,358	23,247
Change in assets held-in-trust	(752)	6,422
Non-cash transactions:
Capital leases	106	766
Dividends payable	1,615	1,349
Proceeds from Issuance of Senior Long-term Debt	0	78,937
Notes Receivable in exchange for shares of subsidiary	$ 0	$ 1,746