CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Revenue:
Services	$ 309,042	$ 302,222
Operating Expenses:
Cost of services sold	211,446	210,419
Office and general expenses	77,828	74,308
Depreciation and amortization	11,220	12,300
Costs and Expenses, Total	300,494	297,027
Operating profit	8,548	5,195
Other Income (Expense):
Other, net	15,512	(18,040)
Interest expense and finance charges	(15,575)	(15,096)
Loss on redemption of notes	(33,298)	0
Interest income	178	119
Nonoperating Income (Expense), Total	(33,183)	(33,017)
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in earnings of non-consolidated affiliates	(24,635)	(27,822)
Income tax benefit	(1,972)	(4,054)
Loss from continuing operations before equity in earnings of non-consolidated affiliates	(22,663)	(23,768)
Equity in earnings of non-consolidated affiliates	229	351
Income from continuing operations	(22,434)	(23,417)
Loss from discontinued operations attributable to MDC Partners Inc., net of taxes	0	(6,294)
Net loss	(22,434)	(29,711)
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	(859)	(2,380)
Net loss attributable to MDC Partners Inc.	$ (23,293)	$ (32,091)
Basic and Diluted
Loss from continuing operations attributable to MDC Partners Inc. common shareholders (usd per share)	$ (0.47)	$ (0.52)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Basic and Diluted Share	(0.47)	(0.52)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations and Disposal of Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Basic and Diluted Share	0.00	(0.13)
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted	$ (0.47)	$ (0.65)
Weighted Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding:
Basic (USD per share)	50,002,552	49,754,961
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic and Diluted	50,002,552	49,754,961
Diluted (USD per share)	50,002,552	49,754,961
Share-based Compensation [Abstract]
Cost of services sold	$ 3,136	$ 2,738
Office and general expenses	1,549	1,707
Total	$ 4,685	$ 4,445