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Valuation and Qualifying Accounts - Summary of Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (Detail) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts [Member] |  |  |
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Balance at beginning of year | $ 18,994,804 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember | $ 12,946,077 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember | $ 15,951,497 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember
Charged / credited to Net income / (loss) | 20,863,867 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember | 19,093,704 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember | 17,280,243 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember
Charges Utilized / Write-offs | (23,693,230)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToOtherAccounts / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember | (13,044,977)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToOtherAccounts / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember | (20,285,663)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToOtherAccounts / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember
Balance at end of year | 16,165,441 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember | 18,994,804 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember | 12,946,077 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsMember
Credit Cards Receivable Allowance for Chargebacks [Member] |  |  |
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Balance at beginning of year | 1,009,071 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForTradeReceivablesMember | 160,458 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForTradeReceivablesMember | 205,107 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForTradeReceivablesMember
Charged / credited to Net income / (loss) | 668,834 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForTradeReceivablesMember | 877,312 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForTradeReceivablesMember | 414,145 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForTradeReceivablesMember
Charges Utilized / Write-offs | (1,148,677)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToOtherAccounts / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForTradeReceivablesMember | (28,699)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToOtherAccounts / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForTradeReceivablesMember | (458,794)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToOtherAccounts / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForTradeReceivablesMember
Balance at end of year | 529,228 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForTradeReceivablesMember | 1,009,071 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForTradeReceivablesMember | 160,458 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_AllowanceForTradeReceivablesMember
Tax Valuation Allowance [Member] |  |  |
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Balance at beginning of year | 3,089,113 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceOfDeferredTaxAssetsMember | 3,226,177 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceOfDeferredTaxAssetsMember | 2,885,596 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceOfDeferredTaxAssetsMember
Charged / credited to Net income / (loss) | 1,608,264 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceOfDeferredTaxAssetsMember | 398,223 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceOfDeferredTaxAssetsMember | 837,473 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceOfDeferredTaxAssetsMember
Charges Utilized / Write-offs | (166,145)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToOtherAccounts / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceOfDeferredTaxAssetsMember | (535,287)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToOtherAccounts / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceOfDeferredTaxAssetsMember | (496,892)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToOtherAccounts / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceOfDeferredTaxAssetsMember
Balance at end of year | 4,531,232 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceOfDeferredTaxAssetsMember | 3,089,113 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceOfDeferredTaxAssetsMember | 3,226,177 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceOfDeferredTaxAssetsMember
Contingencies [Member] |  |  |
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items] |  |  |
Balance at beginning of year | 3,330,108 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = meli_ContingenciesMember | 2,800,197 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = meli_ContingenciesMember | 1,765,242 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = meli_ContingenciesMember
Charged / credited to Net income / (loss) | 3,650,230 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = meli_ContingenciesMember | 3,358,538 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = meli_ContingenciesMember | 2,700,988 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToCostAndExpense / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = meli_ContingenciesMember
Charges Utilized / Write-offs | (3,971,801)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToOtherAccounts / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = meli_ContingenciesMember | (2,828,627)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToOtherAccounts / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = meli_ContingenciesMember | (1,666,033)us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesChargedToOtherAccounts / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = meli_ContingenciesMember
Balance at end of year | $ 3,008,537 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = meli_ContingenciesMember | $ 3,330,108 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = meli_ContingenciesMember | $ 2,800,197 us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance / us-gaap_ValuationAllowancesAndReservesTypeAxis = meli_ContingenciesMember

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- Definition Total of allowances and reserves, the valuation and qualifying accounts that are either netted against the cost of an asset (in order to value it at its carrying value) or that reflect a liability established to represent expected future costs. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e24092-122690 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 09 -Article 12 + Details
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- Definition Total of allowances and reserves, the valuation and qualifying accounts that are either netted against the cost of an asset (in order to value it at its carrying value) or that reflect a liability established to represent expected future costs, charged to costs and expenses. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e24092-122690 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 09 -Article 12 + Details
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