Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Series A Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock	Common Stock	Treasury Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Accumulated Deficit	Noncontrolling Interest	Total
Beginning balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2018	0	49,639,319
Beginning balance, value at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 0	$ 50	$ (39,272)	$ 651,156	$ (422,541)	$ 1,847	$ 191,240
Net loss attributable to Acacia Research Corporation					(4,384)		(4,384)
Compensation expense for share-based awards, net of forfeitures, shares		16,748
Compensation expense for share-based awards, net of forfeitures, value				(8)			(8)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries						(14)	(14)
Ending balance, shares at Mar. 31, 2019	0	49,656,067
Ending balance, value at Mar. 31, 2019	$ 0	$ 50	(39,272)	651,148	(426,925)	1,833	186,834
Beginning balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2019	350,000	50,370,987
Beginning balance, value at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 8,089	$ 50	(39,272)	652,003	(439,656)	1,833	174,958
Net loss attributable to Acacia Research Corporation					(11,291)		(11,291)
Accretion of Series A redeemable convertible preferred stock to redemption value		$ 631		(631)			(631)
Compensation expense for share-based awards, net of forfeitures, shares		19,354
Compensation expense for share-based awards, net of forfeitures, value				332			332
Repurchase of common stock, value			(1,314)				(1,314)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries							0
Ending balance, shares at Mar. 31, 2020	350,000	49,813,443
Ending balance, value at Mar. 31, 2020	$ 8,720	$ 50	$ (40,586)	$ 651,441	$ (450,947)	$ 1,833	$ 161,791