Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Accumulated Deficit [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 562,198	$ 49	$ (34,640)	$ 653,314	$ (947)	$ (62,066)	$ 6,488
Common stock, shares outstanding at Dec. 31, 2013		49,385,057
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss) attributable to Acacia Research Corporation	(66,029)					(66,029)
Payments of Dividends	(25,039)			(25,039)
Stock Issued During Period, Value, New Issues	(25,039)
Stock options exercised, shares		44,506
Proceeds from Stock Options Exercised	206
Stock options exercised, value	206			206
Stock issued during period, shares, share-based compensation, net of forfeitures		635,819
Non-cash stock compensation	18,115	$ 1		18,114
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests in operating subsidiaries	(633)						(633)
Payments to Noncontrolling Interests	867
Foreign Currency Transaction Gain (Loss), Unrealized	(99)				(99)
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments	693				693
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in operating subsidiary	(364)						(364)
Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock	0
Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	489,048	$ 50	(34,640)	646,595	(353)	(128,095)	5,491
Common stock, shares outstanding at Dec. 31, 2014		50,065,382
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss) attributable to Acacia Research Corporation	(160,036)					(160,036)
Payments of Dividends	(25,434)			(25,434)
Stock options exercised, shares		135,000
Proceeds from Stock Options Exercised	938
Stock options exercised, value	938			938
Stock issued during period, shares, share-based compensation, net of forfeitures		450,857
Non-cash stock compensation	11,048	$ 1		11,047
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests in operating subsidiaries	2,558						2,558
Payments to Noncontrolling Interests	4,105
Foreign Currency Transaction Gain (Loss), Unrealized	(123)				(123)
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments	261				261
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in operating subsidiary	(4,105)						(4,105)
Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock	0
Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 314,155	$ 51	(34,640)	633,146	(215)	(288,131)	3,944
Common stock, shares outstanding at Dec. 31, 2015	50,651,239	50,651,239
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss) attributable to Acacia Research Corporation	$ (54,067)					(54,067)
Payments of Dividends	$ 0
Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares	(13,529)
Stock options exercised, shares	101,000	100,992
Proceeds from Stock Options Exercised	$ 326
Stock options exercised, value				326
Stock issued during period, shares, share-based compensation, net of forfeitures		(262,660)
Non-cash stock compensation	9,062	$ (1)		9,063
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests in operating subsidiaries	(732)						(732)
Payments to Noncontrolling Interests	1,358
Foreign Currency Transaction Gain (Loss), Unrealized					40
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments					99
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in operating subsidiary							(1,358)
Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock	(82)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 267,443	$ 50	$ (34,640)	$ 642,453	$ (76)	$ (342,198)	$ 1,854
Common stock, shares outstanding at Dec. 31, 2016	50,476,042	50,476,042