Acquired Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Period

No definition available.

Name:	meli_AcquiredFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	meli_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Additional Escrow Account

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	meli_AdditionalEscrowAccount
Namespace Prefix:	meli_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Business Acquisition Cash Withheld As Indemnification.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	meli_BusinessAcquisitionCashWithheldAsIndemnification
Namespace Prefix:	meli_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Business Combination Escrow Deposits Amounts In Percentage

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	meli_BusinessCombinationEscrowDepositsAmountsInPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	meli_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Business combination escrow deposits to cover unexpected adjustments to initial aggregate purchase price.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	meli_BusinessCombinationEscrowDepositsToCoverUnexpectedAdjustmentsToInitialAggregatePurchasePrice
Namespace Prefix:	meli_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Business combination net of negative working capital adjustments amount.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	meli_BusinessCombinationNetOfNegativeWorkingCapitalAdjustmentsAmount
Namespace Prefix:	meli_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Cash held in escrows.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	meli_CashHeldInEscrows
Namespace Prefix:	meli_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The aggregate expense charged against earnings to allocate the cost of intangible assets (nonphysical assets not used in production) in a systematic and rational manner to the periods expected to benefit from such assets. As a noncash expense, this element is added back to net income when calculating cash provided by or used in operations using the indirect method.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388964&loc=d3e16225-109274

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (a)(2)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage of voting equity interests acquired at the acquisition date in the business combination.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25497992&loc=d3e1392-128463

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionPercentageOfVotingInterestsAcquired
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of asset recognized arising from contingent consideration in a business combination.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 30

-Section 35

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph b

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6911338&loc=d3e6819-128478

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 30

-Section 25

-Paragraph 7

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6911189&loc=d3e6411-128476

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationAsset
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount recognized for assets, including goodwill, in excess of (less than) the aggregate liabilities assumed.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=39739317&loc=d3e4845-128472

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredGoodwillAndLiabilitiesAssumedNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The designation of funds furnished by a borrower to a lender to assure future payments of the borrower's real estate taxes and insurance obligations with respect to a mortgaged property. Escrow deposits may be made for a variety of other purposes such as earnest money and contingent payments. This element excludes replacement reserves which are an escrow separately provided for within the US GAAP taxonomy.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.10)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EscrowDeposit
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Sum of the carrying amounts of all intangible assets, excluding goodwill, as of the balance sheet date, net of accumulated amortization and impairment charges.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388964&loc=d3e16212-109274

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph ((a)(1),(b))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of business during the period. The cash portion only of the acquisition price.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Investing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 13

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3213-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesGross
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=meli_BusinessVisionS.a.Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=meli_OnlineClassifiedsAdvertisementCompaniesInChileAndMexicoMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Business Combinations, Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Additional Information) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		0 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Apr. 08, 2014	Dec. 15, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Fair value of contingent consideration	$ 4,875				$ 4,833
Amount of Trademarks, customer lists, software and non-solicitation agreements	22,801				23,171
Total aggregate amortization expense for intangible assets	510us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	159us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets
Online Classifieds Advertisement Companies in Chile and Mexico [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Percentage of acquisition			100.00%
Total purchase price			37,990
Business acquisition, cash paid			32,148
Cash held in escrows			1,000
Additional cash considerations in escrows			4,621
Additional price adjustment escrow			221
Amount of Trademarks, customer lists, software and non-solicitation agreements			19,036
Online Classifieds Advertisement Companies in Chile and Mexico [Member] \| Customer Lists [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible assets amortized period			10 years
Online Classifieds Advertisement Companies in Chile and Mexico [Member] \| Non Solicitation Agreement [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible assets amortized period			4 years
Online Classifieds Advertisement Companies in Chile and Mexico [Member] \| Software [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible assets amortized period			3 years
Business Vision S.A. [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Percentage of acquisition				100.00%
Total purchase price				4,768
Business acquisition, cash paid				3,804
Business combination net of negative working capital adjustments amount				111
Business Vision S.A. [Member] \| 24-Months Period [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Escrow amount covering unexpected adjustments to initial aggregate purchase price				250
Percentage of amount in escrow account				50.00%
Business Vision S.A. [Member] \| 12-Months Period [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Percentage of amount in escrow account				50.00%
Business Vision S.A. [Member] \| 12-Months Period and 24-Months Period [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Amount in escrow account				$ 735