CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Revenue:
Services	$ 1,326,256,000	$ 1,223,512,000	$ 1,062,478,000
Operating Expenses:
Cost of services sold	879,716,000	798,518,000	704,969,000
Office and general expenses	322,207,000	290,073,000	355,964,000
Depreciation and amortization	52,223,000	47,172,000	36,139,000
Costs and Expenses, Total	1,254,146,000	1,135,763,000	1,097,072,000
Operating income (loss)	72,110,000	87,749,000	(34,594,000)
Other Income (Expenses):
Other income, net	7,238,000	689,000	2,531,000
Foreign exchange loss	(39,328,000)	(18,482,000)	(5,516,000)
Interest expense and finance charges	(57,903,000)	(55,265,000)	(45,110,000)
Loss on redemption of Notes	0	0	(55,588,000)
Interest income	467,000	418,000	427,000
Nonoperating Income (Expense), Total	(89,526,000)	(72,640,000)	(103,256,000)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in earnings of non-consolidated affiliates	(17,416,000)	15,109,000	(137,850,000)
Income tax expense (benefit)	5,664,000	12,422,000	(4,367,000)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before equity in earnings of non-consolidated affiliates	(23,080,000)	2,687,000	(133,483,000)
Equity in earnings of non-consolidated affiliates	1,058,000	1,406,000	281,000
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(22,022,000)	4,093,000	(133,202,000)
Loss from discontinued operations attributable to MDC Partners Inc., net of taxes	(6,281,000)	(21,260,000)	(9,200,000)
Net loss	(28,303,000)	(17,167,000)	(142,402,000)
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	(9,054,000)	(6,890,000)	(6,461,000)
Net loss attributable to MDC Partners Inc.	$ (37,357,000)	$ (24,057,000)	$ (148,863,000)
Basic and Diluted
Loss from continuing operations attributable to MDC Partners Inc. common shareholders (in USD per share)	$ (0.62)	$ (0.06)	$ (2.96)
Discontinued operations attributable to MDC Partners Inc. common shareholders (in USD per share)	(0.13)	(0.43)	(0.20)
Net loss attributable to MDC Partners Inc. common shareholders (in USD per share)	$ (0.75)	$ (0.49)	$ (3.16)
Weighted Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding:
Basic and diluted (in shares)	49,875,282	49,545,350	47,108,406
Stock-based compensation expense is included in the following line items above:
Cost of services sold	$ 11,710,000	$ 9,883,000	$ 7,222,000
Office and general expenses	6,086,000	7,813,000	93,183,000
Total	$ 17,796,000	$ 17,696,000	$ 100,405,000