Discontinued Operations (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015	May 31, 2015
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Net loss from discontinued operations attributable to MDC Partners Inc., net of taxes	$ 0	$ (1,316,000)	$ 0	$ (6,281,000)
Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Consideration						$ 0
Discontinued Operations [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Revenue		0		27,025,000
Operating loss		0		(322,000)
Other expense		0		(752,000)
Loss on disposal		(1,316,000)		(5,207,000)
Net loss from discontinued operations attributable to MDC Partners Inc., net of taxes	0	$ (1,316,000)	0	$ (6,281,000)
Discontinued Operations, Held-for-sale [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Assets	$ 0		$ 0		$ 0