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Fair Value Measurement of Assets and Liabilities (Fair Value of Money Market Funds, Short and Long-Term Investments Classified as Available for Sale Securities) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Cost	$ 331,063us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost		$ 346,677us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost
Gross Unrealized Gains	541us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax		25us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax
Gross Unrealized Losses	(145)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax	[1]	(603)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax	[1]
Estimated Fair Value	331,459us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities		346,099us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Cost	49,038us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsMember		50,540us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsMember
Gross Unrealized Gains	5us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsMember		2us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsMember
Gross Unrealized Losses	(32)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsMember	[1]	(43)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsMember	[1]
Estimated Fair Value	49,011us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsMember		50,499us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsMember
Short-Term Investments [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Cost	92,346us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember		90,414us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember
Gross Unrealized Gains	12us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember		1us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember
Gross Unrealized Losses	(62)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember	[1]	(80)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember	[1]
Estimated Fair Value	92,296us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember		90,335us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember
Long-Term Investments [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Cost	189,679us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = meli_LongTermInvestmentsMember		205,723us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = meli_LongTermInvestmentsMember
Gross Unrealized Gains	524us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = meli_LongTermInvestmentsMember		22us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = meli_LongTermInvestmentsMember
Gross Unrealized Losses	(51)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = meli_LongTermInvestmentsMember	[1]	(480)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = meli_LongTermInvestmentsMember	[1]
Estimated Fair Value	190,152us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = meli_LongTermInvestmentsMember		205,265us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = meli_LongTermInvestmentsMember
Money Market Funds [Member] | Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Cost	35,543us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_MoneyMarketFundsMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsMember		37,531us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_MoneyMarketFundsMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsMember
Gross Unrealized Gains	5us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_MoneyMarketFundsMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsMember		2us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_MoneyMarketFundsMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsMember
Gross Unrealized Losses	(28)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_MoneyMarketFundsMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsMember	[1]	(38)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_MoneyMarketFundsMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsMember	[1]
Estimated Fair Value	35,520us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_MoneyMarketFundsMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsMember		37,495us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_MoneyMarketFundsMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsMember
Sovereign Debt Securities [Member] | Short-Term Investments [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Cost	651us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_SovereignDebtSecuritiesMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember		4,726us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_SovereignDebtSecuritiesMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember
Gross Unrealized Losses	(1)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_SovereignDebtSecuritiesMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember	[1]	(4)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_SovereignDebtSecuritiesMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember	[1]
Estimated Fair Value	650us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_SovereignDebtSecuritiesMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember		4,722us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_SovereignDebtSecuritiesMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember
Sovereign Debt Securities [Member] | Long-Term Investments [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Cost	43,339us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_SovereignDebtSecuritiesMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = meli_LongTermInvestmentsMember		44,511us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_SovereignDebtSecuritiesMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = meli_LongTermInvestmentsMember
Gross Unrealized Gains	115us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_SovereignDebtSecuritiesMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = meli_LongTermInvestmentsMember
Gross Unrealized Losses	(3)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_SovereignDebtSecuritiesMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = meli_LongTermInvestmentsMember	[1]	(83)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_SovereignDebtSecuritiesMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = meli_LongTermInvestmentsMember	[1]
Estimated Fair Value	43,451us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_SovereignDebtSecuritiesMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = meli_LongTermInvestmentsMember		44,428us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_SovereignDebtSecuritiesMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = meli_LongTermInvestmentsMember
Corporate Debt Securities [Member] | Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Cost	13,495us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsMember		13,009us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsMember
Gross Unrealized Losses	(4)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsMember	[1]	(5)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsMember	[1]
Estimated Fair Value	13,491us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsMember		13,004us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsMember
Corporate Debt Securities [Member] | Short-Term Investments [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Cost	83,884us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember		81,886us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember
Gross Unrealized Gains	9us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember
Gross Unrealized Losses	(59)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember	[1]	(75)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember	[1]
Estimated Fair Value	83,834us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember		81,811us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember
Corporate Debt Securities [Member] | Long-Term Investments [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Cost	142,837us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = meli_LongTermInvestmentsMember		157,205us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = meli_LongTermInvestmentsMember
Gross Unrealized Gains	408us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = meli_LongTermInvestmentsMember		22us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = meli_LongTermInvestmentsMember
Gross Unrealized Losses	(48)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = meli_LongTermInvestmentsMember	[1]	(395)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = meli_LongTermInvestmentsMember	[1]
Estimated Fair Value	143,197us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = meli_LongTermInvestmentsMember		156,832us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities / us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis = us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = meli_LongTermInvestmentsMember
Certificates of Deposit [Member] | Short-Term Investments [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Cost	7,811us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = us-gaap_CertificatesOfDepositMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember		3,802us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = us-gaap_CertificatesOfDepositMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember
Gross Unrealized Gains	3us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax / us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = us-gaap_CertificatesOfDepositMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember		1us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax / us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = us-gaap_CertificatesOfDepositMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember
Gross Unrealized Losses	(2)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax / us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = us-gaap_CertificatesOfDepositMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember	[1]	(1)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax / us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = us-gaap_CertificatesOfDepositMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember	[1]
Estimated Fair Value	7,812us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities / us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = us-gaap_CertificatesOfDepositMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember		3,802us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities / us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = us-gaap_CertificatesOfDepositMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = us-gaap_ShortTermInvestmentsMember
Certificates of Deposit [Member] | Long-Term Investments [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Cost	3,503us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = us-gaap_CertificatesOfDepositMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = meli_LongTermInvestmentsMember		4,007us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost / us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = us-gaap_CertificatesOfDepositMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = meli_LongTermInvestmentsMember
Gross Unrealized Gains	1us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax / us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = us-gaap_CertificatesOfDepositMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = meli_LongTermInvestmentsMember
Gross Unrealized Losses			(2)us-gaap_AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax / us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = us-gaap_CertificatesOfDepositMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = meli_LongTermInvestmentsMember	[1]
Estimated Fair Value	$ 3,504us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities / us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = us-gaap_CertificatesOfDepositMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = meli_LongTermInvestmentsMember		$ 4,005us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities / us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAxis = us-gaap_CertificatesOfDepositMember / us-gaap_ScheduleOfFairValueOfSeparateAccountsByMajorCategoryOfInvestmentAxis = meli_LongTermInvestmentsMember
[1] Unrealized losses from securities are primarily attributable to market price movements. Management does not believe any remaining unrealized losses represent other-than-temporary impairments based on the evaluation of available evidence including the credit rating of the investments, as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014.

X

- Definition

Amount before tax of unrealized gain in accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) on investments in debt securities classified as available-for-sale.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (b)

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- Definition

Amount before tax of unrealized loss in accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) on investments in debt securities classified as available-for-sale.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)

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- Definition

This item represents the cost of debt and equity securities, which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading, net of adjustments including accretion, amortization, collection of cash, previous other-than-temporary impairments recognized in earnings (less any cumulative-effect adjustments recognized, as defined), and fair value hedge accounting adjustments, if any.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

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- Definition

Amount of debt securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 25

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

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-Subparagraph (aa)

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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