Segment Information (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($) segment	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of Reportable Segments | segment	1
Revenue	$ 309,042	$ 302,222
Cost of services sold	211,446	210,419
Office and general expenses	77,828	74,308
Depreciation and amortization	11,220	12,300
Operating profit	8,548	5,195
Other Income (Expense):
Other income, net	15,512	(18,040)
Interest expense, net	(15,397)	(14,977)
Loss On Redemption Of Notes	(33,298)	0
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes, equity in affiliates	(24,635)	(27,822)
Income tax benefit	(1,972)	(4,054)
Loss from continuing operations before equity in affiliates	(22,663)	(23,768)
Equity in earnings of non-consolidated affiliates	229	351
Income from continuing operations	(22,434)	(23,417)
Loss from discontinuing 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)	$ (9,054)
Net loss attributable to MDC Partners Inc.	(23,293)	(32,091)
Stock based compensation	4,685	4,445
Supplemental Segment Information:
Capital expenditures	5,539	5,656
Goodwill and intangibles	944,660	916,222
Total Assets	1,571,555	1,625,613	$ 1,577,625
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	0	0
Cost of services sold	0	0
Office and general expenses	12,733	20,372
Depreciation and amortization	397	446
Operating profit	(13,130)	(20,818)
Other Income (Expense):
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	0	0
Stock based compensation	804	945
Supplemental Segment Information:
Capital expenditures	28	68
Goodwill and intangibles	0	0
Total Assets	158,567	142,000
Advertising and Communications Segment [Domain]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	309,042	302,222
Cost of services sold	211,446	210,419
Office and general expenses	65,095	53,936
Depreciation and amortization	10,823	11,854
Operating profit	21,678	26,013
Other Income (Expense):
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	(859)	(2,380)
Stock based compensation	3,881	3,500
Supplemental Segment Information:
Capital expenditures	5,511	5,588
Goodwill and intangibles	944,660	916,222
Total Assets	$ 1,412,988	$ 1,483,613