<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<FilingSummary xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema">
  <Version>2.2.0.25</Version>
  <ReportType />
  <MyReports>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>true</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>00 - Document - Document and Entity Information</LongName>
      <ShortName>Document and Entity Information</ShortName>
      <Role>http://mercadolibre.com/role/DocumentAndEntityInformation</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R1.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0110 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets</LongName>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Balance Sheets</ShortName>
      <Role>http://mercadolibre.com/role/BalanceSheets</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R2.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0111 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical)</LongName>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical)</ShortName>
      <Role>http://mercadolibre.com/role/BalanceSheetsParenthetical</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R3.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0120 - Statement - Consolidated Statement of Income</LongName>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statement of Income</ShortName>
      <Role>http://mercadolibre.com/role/StatementsOfIncome</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R4.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0130 - Statement - Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders' Equity</LongName>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders' Equity</ShortName>
      <Role>http://mercadolibre.com/role/StatementsOfChangesInShareholdersEquityDeficit</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R5.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0140 - Statement - Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows</LongName>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows</ShortName>
      <Role>http://mercadolibre.com/role/StatementsOfCashFlows</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R6.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0201 - Disclosure - Nature of Business</LongName>
      <ShortName>Nature of Business</ShortName>
      <Role>http://mercadolibre.com/role/NatureOfBusiness</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R7.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0202 - Disclosure - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies</LongName>
      <ShortName>Summary of Significant Accounting Policies</ShortName>
      <Role>http://mercadolibre.com/role/SummaryOfSignificantAccountingPolicies</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R8.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0203 - Disclosure - Net income per share</LongName>
      <ShortName>Net income per share</ShortName>
      <Role>http://mercadolibre.com/role/NetIncomePerShare</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R9.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0204 - Disclosure - Short-term and long-term investments</LongName>
      <ShortName>Short-term and long-term investments</ShortName>
      <Role>http://mercadolibre.com/role/ShortTermAndLongTermInvestments</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R10.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0205 - Disclosure - Balance sheet components</LongName>
      <ShortName>Balance sheet components</ShortName>
      <Role>http://mercadolibre.com/role/BalanceSheetComponents</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R11.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0206 - Disclosure - Business Combinations, Goodwill and Intangible Assets</LongName>
      <ShortName>Business Combinations, Goodwill and Intangible Assets</ShortName>
      <Role>http://mercadolibre.com/role/BusinessCombinationsGoodwillAndIntangibleAssets</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R12.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0207 - Disclosure - Segments</LongName>
      <ShortName>Segments</ShortName>
      <Role>http://mercadolibre.com/role/Segments</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R13.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0208 - Disclosure - Fair Value Measurement of Assets and Liabilities</LongName>
      <ShortName>Fair Value Measurement of Assets and Liabilities</ShortName>
      <Role>http://mercadolibre.com/role/FairValueMeasurementOfAssetsAndLiabilities</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R14.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0209 - Disclosure - Common Stock</LongName>
      <ShortName>Common Stock</ShortName>
      <Role>http://mercadolibre.com/role/CommonStock</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R15.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0210 - Disclosure - Mandatorily Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock</LongName>
      <ShortName>Mandatorily Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock</ShortName>
      <Role>http://mercadolibre.com/role/MandatorilyRedeemableConvertiblePreferredStock</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R16.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0211 - Disclosure - Compensation Plan for Outside Directors</LongName>
      <ShortName>Compensation Plan for Outside Directors</ShortName>
      <Role>http://mercadolibre.com/role/CompensationPlanForOutsideDirectors</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R17.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0212 - Disclosure - Stock Option Plan and Restricted Shares</LongName>
      <ShortName>Stock Option Plan and Restricted Shares</ShortName>
      <Role>http://mercadolibre.com/role/StockOptionPlanAndRestrictedShares</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R18.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0213 - Disclosure - Management incentive bonus plan</LongName>
      <ShortName>Management incentive bonus plan</ShortName>
      <Role>http://mercadolibre.com/role/ManagementIncentiveBonusPlan</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R19.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0214 - Disclosure - Income Taxes</LongName>
      <ShortName>Income Taxes</ShortName>
      <Role>http://mercadolibre.com/role/IncomeTaxes</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R20.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0215 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingencies</LongName>
      <ShortName>Commitments and Contingencies</ShortName>
      <Role>http://mercadolibre.com/role/CommitmentsAndContingencies</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R21.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0216 - Disclosure - Long Term Retention Plan</LongName>
      <ShortName>Long Term Retention Plan</ShortName>
      <Role>http://mercadolibre.com/role/LongTermRetentionPlan</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R22.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0217 - Disclosure - Share Repurchase Plan</LongName>
      <ShortName>Share Repurchase Plan</ShortName>
      <Role>http://mercadolibre.com/role/ShareRepurchasePlan</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R23.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0218 - Disclosure - Related Party Transactions</LongName>
      <ShortName>Related Party Transactions</ShortName>
      <Role>http://mercadolibre.com/role/RelatedPartyTransactions</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R24.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0219 - Disclosure - Valuation and qualifying accounts</LongName>
      <ShortName>Valuation and qualifying accounts</ShortName>
      <Role>http://mercadolibre.com/role/ValuationAndQualifyingAccounts</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R25.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0220 - Disclosure - Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)</LongName>
      <ShortName>Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)</ShortName>
      <Role>http://mercadolibre.com/role/QuarterlyFinancialData</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R26.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0221 - Disclosure - Subsequent Events</LongName>
      <ShortName>Subsequent Events</ShortName>
      <Role>http://mercadolibre.com/role/SubsequentEvents</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R27.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Book</ReportType>
      <LongName>All Reports</LongName>
      <ShortName>All Reports</ShortName>
      <Role />
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName />
    </Report>
  </MyReports>
  <EntityCount>1</EntityCount>
  <ContextCount>41</ContextCount>
  <SegmentCount>6</SegmentCount>
  <ScenarioCount>0</ScenarioCount>
  <UnitCount>3</UnitCount>
  <ElementCount>169</ElementCount>
  <FootnotesReported>true</FootnotesReported>
  <TuplesReported>false</TuplesReported>
  <ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2009_Additional_Paid_In_Capital_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>7</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_31Dec2007_Accumulated_Other_Comprehensive_Income_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_31Dec2010_Accumulated_Other_Comprehensive_Income_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2010_Comprehensive_Income_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>5</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_31Dec2008_Accumulated_Other_Comprehensive_Income_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2008_Accumulated_Other_Comprehensive_Income_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>3</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_31Dec2009</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>63</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2010_Additional_Paid_In_Capital_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>5</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_31Dec2009_Accumulated_Other_Comprehensive_Income_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2008_Treasury_Stock_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>2</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2009_Retained_Earnings_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2009</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>56</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2010_Retained_Earnings_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2008</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>58</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_31Dec2010_Common_Stock_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>2</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2010_Common_Stock_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>4</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_31Dec2007_Retained_Earnings_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2009_Comprehensive_Income_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>5</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_31Dec2007_Common_Stock_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>2</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2010_Accumulated_Other_Comprehensive_Income_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>3</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_31Dec2008_Retained_Earnings_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_31Dec2008_Additional_Paid_In_Capital_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_31Dec2010_Additional_Paid_In_Capital_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2009_Common_Stock_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>8</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2009_Accumulated_Other_Comprehensive_Income_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>3</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2008_Additional_Paid_In_Capital_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>5</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_31Dec2007_Additional_Paid_In_Capital_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2008_Retained_Earnings_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_31Dec2009_Retained_Earnings_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2008_Common_Stock_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>4</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>Jan-01-2010_Dec-31-2010</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>86</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_31Dec2008</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>27</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_30Jun2010</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_31Dec2010_Retained_Earnings_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_31Dec2010</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>64</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>TwelveMonthsEnded_31Dec2008_Comprehensive_Income_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>5</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_31Dec2008_Common_Stock_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>2</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_31Dec2010_Treasury_Stock_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_31Dec2009_Additional_Paid_In_Capital_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_31Dec2009_Common_Stock_Member</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>2</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_31Dec2007</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>2</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
  </ContextSummary>
  <BaseTaxonomies />
  <HasPresentationLinkbase>true</HasPresentationLinkbase>
  <HasCalculationLinkbase>true</HasCalculationLinkbase>
</FilingSummary>
