CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss	$ (22,434)	$ (29,711)
Loss from discontinued operations attributable to MDC Partners Inc., net of taxes	0	(6,294)
Loss from continuing operations	(22,434)	(23,417)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss from continuing operations to cash used in operating activities:
Stock-based compensation	4,685	4,445
Depreciation	5,028	4,537
Amortization of intangibles	6,192	7,763
Amortization of deferred finance charges and debt discount	7,021	1,494
Adjustment to deferred acquisition consideration	6,440	2,801
Deferred income tax	(2,266)	(3,929)
Earnings of non-consolidated affiliates	(229)	(351)
Other non-current assets and liabilities	(1,482)	733
Foreign exchange	(14,134)	15,219
Changes in working capital:
Accounts receivable	(31,586)	(97,760)
Expenditures billable to clients	21,692	(5,721)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(13,030)	(12,211)
Accounts payable, accruals and other liabilities	(138,473)	(36,478)
Advance billings	17,016	30,496
Cash flows used in continuing operating activities	(128,687)	(112,379)
Discontinued operations	0	(1,294)
Net cash used in operating activities	(128,687)	(113,673)
Cash flows used in investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(5,539)	(5,656)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(1,774)	(1,310)
Proceeds from sale of assets	0	29
Other investments	(822)	(2,318)
Distributions from non-consolidated affiliates	7	342
Cash flows used in continuing investing activities	(8,128)	(8,913)
Discontinued operations	0	(153)
Net cash used in investing activities	(8,128)	(9,066)
Cash flows provided by financing activities:
Payments for (Proceeds from) Previous Acquisition	30,479	11,142
Repayment of long-term debt	(156)	(126)
Purchase of shares	(902)	(876)
Premium Paid On Redemption Of Notes	26,873	0
Payments of Financing Costs	18,091	0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(2,399)	(2,839)
Cash overdrafts	6,271	32,103
Payment of dividends	(10,636)	(10,636)
Cash flows provided by continuing financing activities	98,714	26,086
Discontinued operations	0	(40)
Net cash provided by financing activities	98,714	26,046
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(1,517)	711
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(39,618)	(95,982)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	61,458	113,348
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	21,840	17,366
Supplemental disclosures:
Cash income taxes paid	143	540
Cash interest paid	25,703	367
Change in assets held-in-trust	208	(246)
Non-cash transactions:
Capital leases	156	42
Dividends payable	1,115	1,384
Six Point Seven Five Percentage Notes [Member]
Adjustments to reconcile net loss from continuing operations to cash used in operating activities:
Loss on redemption of notes	26,873	0
Cash flows provided by financing activities:
Proceeds from Issuance of Senior Long-term Debt	900,000	0
Repayments of Senior Debt	735,000	0
Wells Fargo Capital Finance, LLC | Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Cash flows provided by financing activities:
Repayments of Lines of Credit	(217,208)	(91,190)
Proceeds from (Repayments of) Lines of Credit	$ 234,187	$ 110,792