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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail)
1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 6 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 0 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
USD ($)
Office
Jan. 31, 2014
Oct. 31, 2013
May 31, 2013
USD ($)
sqm
May 31, 2013
VEF
Jun. 30, 2014
USD ($)
Office
Mar. 31, 2014
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2013
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
USD ($)
Business
Office
Dec. 31, 2013
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2012
USD ($)
Mar. 19, 2013
Sep. 30, 2011
Dec. 31, 2010
Feb. 28, 2013
SITME [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
SITME [Member]
Dec. 31, 2014
Capped Call Transactions [Member]
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2014
2.25% Convertible Senior Notes Due 2019 [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
2.25% Convertible Senior Notes Due 2019 [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
2.25% Convertible Senior Notes Due 2019 [Member]
Capped Call Transactions [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
Internet Domain Names [Member]
Dec. 31, 2014
United States [Member]
Dec. 31, 2013
United States [Member]
Dec. 31, 2014
Foreign [Member]
Dec. 31, 2013
Foreign [Member]
May 31, 2013
Caracas [Member]
USD ($)
StorageSpaces
ParkingSpaces
May 31, 2013
Caracas [Member]
VEF
StorageSpaces
ParkingSpaces
Apr. 30, 2013
Buenos Aires [Member]
USD ($)
sqm
Floors
Dec. 31, 2013
Buenos Aires [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2014
Minimum [Member]
Dec. 31, 2014
Maximum [Member]
Dec. 31, 2014
Sales Revenue, Net [Member]
Customer
Dec. 31, 2013
Sales Revenue, Net [Member]
Customer
Dec. 31, 2012
Sales Revenue, Net [Member]
Customer
Dec. 31, 2014
Sales Revenue, Net [Member]
Minimum [Member]
Dec. 31, 2013
Sales Revenue, Net [Member]
Minimum [Member]
Dec. 31, 2012
Sales Revenue, Net [Member]
Minimum [Member]
Dec. 31, 2014
Accounts Receivable [Member]
Customer
Dec. 31, 2013
Accounts Receivable [Member]
Customer
Dec. 31, 2014
Accounts Receivable [Member]
Minimum [Member]
Dec. 31, 2013
Accounts Receivable [Member]
Minimum [Member]
Dec. 31, 2014
SICAD 2 [Member]
Dec. 31, 2014
Consumer Credit Card Financing Receivable [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2013
Consumer Credit Card Financing Receivable [Member]
USD ($)
Oct. 31, 2013
Venezuelan Operations [Member]
Dec. 31, 2014
Venezuelan Operations [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2013
Venezuelan Operations [Member]
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2012
Venezuelan Operations [Member]
USD ($)
Oct. 31, 2013
Venezuelan Operations [Member]
Caracas [Member]
USD ($)
sqm
Oct. 31, 2013
Venezuelan Operations [Member]
Caracas [Member]
VEB
Oct. 31, 2013
Venezuelan Operations [Member]
Caracas [Member]
VEF
Oct. 09, 2014
Venezuelan Operations [Member]
Centro San Ignacio, Caracas [Member]
USD ($)
Oct. 09, 2014
Venezuelan Operations [Member]
Centro San Ignacio, Caracas [Member]
VEF
Dec. 31, 2014
Venezuelan Operations [Member]
Centro San Ignacio, Caracas [Member]
Oct. 20, 2014
Venezuelan Operations [Member]
Centro San Ignacio, Caracas [Member]
VEF
Oct. 09, 2014
Venezuelan Operations [Member]
Centro San Ignacio, Caracas [Member]
VEF
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]                                                                                                                
Percentage of revenues and operating costs generated in foreign operations                 99.70%meli_RevenuesAndOperatingCostsGeneratedInForeignOperations 99.60%meli_RevenuesAndOperatingCostsGeneratedInForeignOperations 99.50%meli_RevenuesAndOperatingCostsGeneratedInForeignOperations                                                                                          
Long-lived assets and goodwill located in the foreign operations $ 170,147,135meli_OtherCountriesLongLivedTangibleAndIntangibleAssets               $ 170,147,135meli_OtherCountriesLongLivedTangibleAndIntangibleAssets $ 183,922,432meli_OtherCountriesLongLivedTangibleAndIntangibleAssets                                                                                            
Cash and cash equivalents as well as short and long-term, mainly located in the United States of America and Brazil 577,218,807meli_CashCashEquivalentsAndShortAndLongTermInvestments               577,218,807meli_CashCashEquivalentsAndShortAndLongTermInvestments 262,598,055meli_CashCashEquivalentsAndShortAndLongTermInvestments                                                                                            
Percentage of cash and cash equivalents as well as short and long-term investments                                           71.00%meli_PercentageOfCashAndCashEquivalentsAndShortAndLongTermInvestments
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_US
39.00%meli_PercentageOfCashAndCashEquivalentsAndShortAndLongTermInvestments
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= country_US
29.00%meli_PercentageOfCashAndCashEquivalentsAndShortAndLongTermInvestments
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignCountryMember
61.00%meli_PercentageOfCashAndCashEquivalentsAndShortAndLongTermInvestments
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignCountryMember
                                                             
Highly liquid investments with original maturity                 Three months or less                                                                                              
Other-than-temporary impairment on investments                 0us-gaap_ImpairmentOfInvestments 0us-gaap_ImpairmentOfInvestments 0us-gaap_ImpairmentOfInvestments                                                                                          
Number of customers accounted for accounts receivables                                                               0meli_NumberOfCustomersAcrossRiskThreshold
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= us-gaap_SalesRevenueNetMember
0meli_NumberOfCustomersAcrossRiskThreshold
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= us-gaap_SalesRevenueNetMember
0meli_NumberOfCustomersAcrossRiskThreshold
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= us-gaap_SalesRevenueNetMember
      0meli_NumberOfCustomersAcrossRiskThreshold
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= us-gaap_AccountsReceivableMember
0meli_NumberOfCustomersAcrossRiskThreshold
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= us-gaap_AccountsReceivableMember
                                 
Net revenues                                                                     5.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= us-gaap_SalesRevenueNetMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
5.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= us-gaap_SalesRevenueNetMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
5.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= us-gaap_SalesRevenueNetMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
    5.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= us-gaap_AccountsReceivableMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
5.00%us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskPercentage1
/ us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskByBenchmarkAxis
= us-gaap_AccountsReceivableMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
                             
Charge off receivables past due                 180 days                                                                                              
Credit cards receivables past due                                                                                     0us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentPastDue
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= us-gaap_ConsumerCreditCardFinancingReceivableMember
0us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentPastDue
/ us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentByClassOfFinancingReceivableAxis
= us-gaap_ConsumerCreditCardFinancingReceivableMember
                       
Pre-tax gain recognized on sale of credit card coupons                 71,409,155us-gaap_GainsLossesOnSalesOfCreditCardPortfolio 49,735,842us-gaap_GainsLossesOnSalesOfCreditCardPortfolio 39,502,228us-gaap_GainsLossesOnSalesOfCreditCardPortfolio                                                                                          
Finite-lived intangible assets, useful life                                         3 years                 3 years 5 years                                                  
Company capitalization 7,036,816us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareGross               7,036,816us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareGross 5,387,385us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareGross                                                                                            
Number of floors in new office building                                                       3meli_NumberOfFloorsInNewOfficeBuilding
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= meli_BuenosAiresMember
                                                       
Area of new office building       1,158meli_AreaOfOfficeBuildingsAcquired 1,158meli_AreaOfOfficeBuildingsAcquired                                             3,918meli_AreaOfOfficeBuildingsAcquired
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= meli_BuenosAiresMember
                                                       
Acquisition agreement amount       20,002,357meli_AcquisitionAgreementAmount 126,014,852meli_AcquisitionAgreementAmount                                         20,002,357meli_AcquisitionAgreementAmount
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= meli_CaracasMember
126,014,852meli_AcquisitionAgreementAmount
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= meli_CaracasMember
18,481,024meli_AcquisitionAgreementAmount
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= meli_BuenosAiresMember
                                              3,400,000meli_AcquisitionAgreementAmount
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= meli_VenezuelanSubsidiaryMember
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= meli_CentroSanIgnacioCaracasMember
170,600,000meli_AcquisitionAgreementAmount
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= meli_VenezuelanSubsidiaryMember
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= meli_CentroSanIgnacioCaracasMember
     
Acquisition agreement amount                                                         495,453meli_AcquisitionAgreementAmountPaidInAdvance
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= meli_BuenosAiresMember
                                      52,094,476meli_AcquisitionAgreementAmountPaidInAdvance
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= meli_VenezuelanSubsidiaryMember
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= meli_CaracasMember
328,195,200meli_AcquisitionAgreementAmountPaidInAdvance
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= meli_VenezuelanSubsidiaryMember
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= meli_CaracasMember
328,195,200meli_AcquisitionAgreementAmountPaidInAdvance
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= meli_VenezuelanSubsidiaryMember
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= meli_CaracasMember
         
Purchase agreement amount to be paid                                                         3,184,580meli_AcquisitionAgreementAmountYetToPay
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= meli_BuenosAiresMember
                                                     
Acquisition agreement amount                                                         14,800,991us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireAssetsInvestingActivities
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= meli_BuenosAiresMember
                                                     
Number of parking space                                                   13meli_NumberOfParkingSpaceInNewOfficeBuilding
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= meli_CaracasMember
13meli_NumberOfParkingSpaceInNewOfficeBuilding
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= meli_CaracasMember
                                                         
Number of storage space                                                   4meli_NumberOfStorageSpaceInNewOfficeBuilding
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= meli_CaracasMember
4meli_NumberOfStorageSpaceInNewOfficeBuilding
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= meli_CaracasMember
                                                         
Area of office property acquired                                                                                                 1,367us-gaap_AreaOfRealEstateProperty
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= meli_VenezuelanSubsidiaryMember
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= meli_CaracasMember
1,367us-gaap_AreaOfRealEstateProperty
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= meli_VenezuelanSubsidiaryMember
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= meli_CaracasMember
1,367us-gaap_AreaOfRealEstateProperty
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= meli_VenezuelanSubsidiaryMember
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= meli_CaracasMember
         
Line of credit facility amount                                                                                                 13,510,317meli_AmountOfFundingFromLineOfCredit
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= meli_VenezuelanSubsidiaryMember
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= meli_CaracasMember
85,115,000meli_AmountOfFundingFromLineOfCredit
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= meli_VenezuelanSubsidiaryMember
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= meli_CaracasMember
85,115,000meli_AmountOfFundingFromLineOfCredit
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= meli_VenezuelanSubsidiaryMember
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= meli_CaracasMember
         
Term of line of credit                                                                                         12 months                      
Interest rate of line of credit                                                                                         13.00%us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityInterestRateDuringPeriod
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= meli_VenezuelanSubsidiaryMember
                     
Acquisition agreement amount paid                                                                                                             51,200,000meli_AcquisitionAgreementAmountPaid
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= meli_VenezuelanSubsidiaryMember
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= meli_CentroSanIgnacioCaracasMember
85,300,000meli_AcquisitionAgreementAmountPaid
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= meli_VenezuelanSubsidiaryMember
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= meli_CentroSanIgnacioCaracasMember
Acquisition agreement amount paid in percentage                                                                                                             30.00%meli_AcquisitionAgreementAmountPaidInPercentage
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= meli_VenezuelanSubsidiaryMember
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= meli_CentroSanIgnacioCaracasMember
50.00%meli_AcquisitionAgreementAmountPaidInPercentage
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= meli_VenezuelanSubsidiaryMember
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= meli_CentroSanIgnacioCaracasMember
Acquisition agreement, percentage of purchase price paid at transfer of ownership                                                                                                           20.00%meli_AcquisitionAgreementPercentageOfPurchasePricePaidAtTransferOfPropertyOwnership
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= meli_VenezuelanSubsidiaryMember
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= meli_CentroSanIgnacioCaracasMember
   
Straight-line depreciation method, depreciable life     50 years                                                                                                          
Impairment of Long lived assets           49,495,686us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges     49,495,686us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges                                                                                              
Number of office spaces impaired           2meli_NumberOfAssetsImpaired                                                                                                    
Average discount rate, long lived assets                 13.40%meli_AverageDiscountRateCurrentYear                                                                                              
Discount rates                                                           10.30%meli_DiscountRate
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
21.00%meli_DiscountRate
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
                                                 
Intangible assets, impairment loss                 0us-gaap_ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill 0us-gaap_ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill 0us-gaap_ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill                                                                                          
Taxes on revenues, total                 39,377,262meli_TaxesOnRevenuesNet 28,388,734meli_TaxesOnRevenuesNet 22,529,191meli_TaxesOnRevenuesNet                                                                                          
Advertising costs, expense incurred total                 42,051,770us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense 31,594,894us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense 18,764,629us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense                                                                                          
Total Comprehensive income                 25,366,975us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax 78,834,596us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax 89,507,516us-gaap_ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax                                                                                          
Percentage of acquisition                         60.00%us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionPercentageOfVotingInterestsAcquired                                                                                      
Right to acquire remaining percentage of acquisition 40.00%meli_RightToAcquireRemainingPercentageOfAcquisition               40.00%meli_RightToAcquireRemainingPercentageOfAcquisition       40.00%meli_RightToAcquireRemainingPercentageOfAcquisition                                                                                      
Business acquisition purchase price consideration description                 According to the signed agreement, the price for the remaining 40% interest call or put options will be determined by the greater of (i) $4,000,000 and (ii) the amount resulting from multiplying (A) the percentage of the seller's interests as of the exercise date of the call/put option by (B) an amount equal to 3.5 times the amount of invoiced sales of such company for the twelve months period ending on the exercise date.                                                                                              
Business combination consideration amount paid 4,000,000us-gaap_BusinessCombinationConsiderationTransferred1                                                                                                              
Cost of remaining portion of ownership interest                   4,000,000us-gaap_RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestEquityCarryingAmount                                                                                            
Foreign currency (loss) gain                 (2,351,539)us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax 1,258,476us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax 11,597us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax                                                                                          
Percentage increase in cumulative inflation rate 100.00%meli_PercentageIncreaseInCumulativeInflationRate               100.00%meli_PercentageIncreaseInCumulativeInflationRate         100.00%meli_PercentageIncreaseInCumulativeInflationRate                                                                                    
Translation effect accounted in other comprehensive income                 (47,214,002)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax (37,971,615)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax (11,319,211)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax                                                                     0us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= meli_VenezuelanSubsidiaryMember
0us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= meli_VenezuelanSubsidiaryMember
0us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= meli_VenezuelanSubsidiaryMember
               
Exchange rate used to re-measure transactions 8.56meli_ForeignCurrencyExchangeRateRemeasuringTransactions 8.00meli_ForeignCurrencyExchangeRateRemeasuringTransactions             8.56meli_ForeignCurrencyExchangeRateRemeasuringTransactions 6.52meli_ForeignCurrencyExchangeRateRemeasuringTransactions   6.30meli_ForeignCurrencyExchangeRateRemeasuringTransactions     6.3meli_ForeignCurrencyExchangeRateRemeasuringTransactions
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= meli_SitmeRateMember
5.3meli_ForeignCurrencyExchangeRateRemeasuringTransactions
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= meli_SitmeRateMember
                                                                               
Foreign currency loss               6,400,000meli_LossRelatedToVenezuelaCurrencyDevaluation                                                                                                
Foreign exchange loss           16,500,000meli_ForeignCurrencyExchangeGainLoss                                                                                                    
Foreign exchange rate                                                                                   49.98us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyExchangeRateTranslation1
/ us-gaap_InformationByFinancialStatementLineItemAxis
= meli_SicadTwoMember
                           
Number of office spaces 2meli_NumberOfOfficePropertiesOwned               2meli_NumberOfOfficePropertiesOwned                                                                                              
Fair value of real estate properties 22,000,000us-gaap_AssetsHeldForSaleLongLivedFairValueDisclosure               22,000,000us-gaap_AssetsHeldForSaleLongLivedFairValueDisclosure                                                                                              
Percentage of consolidated net assets                                                                                           8.90%meli_NetAssetsOfAsPercentageOfConsolidatedNetAssets
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= meli_VenezuelanSubsidiaryMember
                   
Percentage of consolidated cash and investments                                                                                           3.20%meli_NetCashAndInvestmentsOfSubsidiariesAsPercentageOfCashAndInvestments
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= meli_VenezuelanSubsidiaryMember
                   
Percentage of increase in exchange ratio   23.00%meli_PercentageOfIncreaseInExchangeRatio                                                                                                            
Net assets decreased             14,625,451meli_ChangeInEquityMethodInvestmentForeignCurrencyTranslation                                                                                                  
Recognize foreign currency gain             4,597,510us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainBeforeTax                                                                                                  
Percentage on relief of total income tax                 60.00%meli_PercentageOnReliefOfIncomeTax                                                                                              
Percentage of tax benefits obtained from software development law                 From fiscal year 2008, the Company’s Argentine subsidiary has been a beneficiary of a software development law. Part of the benefits obtained from being a beneficiary of the aforementioned law is a relief of 60% of total income tax determined in each year, thus resulting in an effective tax rate in Argentina lower than the income tax law statutory rate. The law expired on September 17, 2014. As a consequence, the average tax rate for 2014 is approximately 22% as the Company expects no income tax holiday during last quarter of fiscal year 2014.                                                                                              
Effective tax rate                 22.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations                                                                                              
Aggregate tax benefit, total                 8,034,619us-gaap_IncomeTaxHolidayAggregateDollarAmount 11,592,825us-gaap_IncomeTaxHolidayAggregateDollarAmount 9,204,773us-gaap_IncomeTaxHolidayAggregateDollarAmount                                                                                          
Aggregate per share effect of the Argentine tax holiday                 $ 0.18us-gaap_IncomeTaxHolidayIncomeTaxBenefitsPerShare $ 0.26us-gaap_IncomeTaxHolidayIncomeTaxBenefitsPerShare $ 0.21us-gaap_IncomeTaxHolidayIncomeTaxBenefitsPerShare                                                                                          
Number of companies acquired                 2us-gaap_NumberOfBusinessesAcquired                                                                                              
Foreign tax credits related to the dividend distributions received from its subsidiaries 4,327,796us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwardsForeign               4,327,796us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwardsForeign 668,659us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwardsForeign                                                                                            
Convertible senior notes, issued                                   330,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= meli_TwoPointTwoFivePercentageConvertibleSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandNineteenMember
330,000,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= meli_TwoPointTwoFivePercentageConvertibleSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandNineteenMember
                                                                         
Convertible senior notes, interest rate                                   2.25%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= meli_TwoPointTwoFivePercentageConvertibleSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandNineteenMember
2.25%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= meli_TwoPointTwoFivePercentageConvertibleSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandNineteenMember
                                                                         
Convertible senior notes, maturity date                                     Jul. 01, 2019                                                                          
Convertible senior notes, conversion rate                                   7.9353%us-gaap_DebtConversionConvertedInstrumentRate
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= meli_TwoPointTwoFivePercentageConvertibleSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandNineteenMember
7.9353%us-gaap_DebtConversionConvertedInstrumentRate
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= meli_TwoPointTwoFivePercentageConvertibleSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandNineteenMember
                                                                         
Convertible senior notes, conversion price                                   $ 126.02us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleConversionPrice1
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= meli_TwoPointTwoFivePercentageConvertibleSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandNineteenMember
$ 126.02us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleConversionPrice1
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= meli_TwoPointTwoFivePercentageConvertibleSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandNineteenMember
                                                                         
Convertible senior notes, principal amount per share                                   1,000us-gaap_DebtConversionConvertedInstrumentAmount1
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= meli_TwoPointTwoFivePercentageConvertibleSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandNineteenMember
1,000us-gaap_DebtConversionConvertedInstrumentAmount1
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= meli_TwoPointTwoFivePercentageConvertibleSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandNineteenMember
                                                                         
Debt indenture description                 The Indenture contains customary terms and covenants, including that upon certain events of default occurring and continuing, either the Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes may declare 100% of the principal of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, all the Notes to be due and payable.                                                                                              
Net carrying amount                                     283,015,125us-gaap_DebtLongtermAndShorttermCombinedAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= meli_TwoPointTwoFivePercentageConvertibleSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandNineteenMember
                                                                         
Cash flows, discount rate                                     5.55%us-gaap_FairValueInputsDiscountRate
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= meli_TwoPointTwoFivePercentageConvertibleSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandNineteenMember
                                                                         
Debt discount                                     46,984,875us-gaap_AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalEquityComponentOfConvertibleDebt
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= meli_TwoPointTwoFivePercentageConvertibleSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandNineteenMember
                                                                         
Effective interest rate                                     6.10%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= meli_TwoPointTwoFivePercentageConvertibleSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandNineteenMember
                                                                         
Payment for capped call transactions                 19,668,000us-gaap_PaymentsForHedgeFinancingActivities                     19,668,000us-gaap_PaymentsForHedgeFinancingActivities
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= meli_CappedCallMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= meli_TwoPointTwoFivePercentageConvertibleSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandNineteenMember
                                                                       
Strike price, per share                                 $ 126.02meli_StrikePricePerShare
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= meli_CappedCallMember
                                                                             
Approximate cap price, per share                                 $ 155.81meli_CapPricePerShare
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= meli_CappedCallMember
                                                                             
Net of deferred income tax effect amounts                 $ (20,236,973)us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit $ (7,847,513)us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit $ (492,362)us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit                 $ 12,784,200us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= meli_CappedCallMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= meli_TwoPointTwoFivePercentageConvertibleSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandNineteenMember