Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]

No definition available.

Name:	meli_CommitmentsAndContingenciesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	meli_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number Of Finance Lease Contracts

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	meli_NumberOfFinanceLeaseContracts
Namespace Prefix:	meli_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of unsecured line of credit facility.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	meli_NumberOfUnsecuredLineOfCreditFacility
Namespace Prefix:	meli_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Purchase Commitment, Number Of Units

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	meli_PurchaseCommitmentNumberOfUnits
Namespace Prefix:	meli_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Period of time between issuance and maturity of debt instrument, in PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTerm
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Weighted average interest rate of debt outstanding.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Present value of lessee's discounted obligation for lease payments from finance lease.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 842
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77888426&loc=SL77918701-209980

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 842
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77888419&loc=SL77918627-209977

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinanceLeaseLiability
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Term of lessee's finance lease, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 842
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77888426&loc=SL77918673-209980

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LesseeFinanceLeaseTermOfContract1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current and noncurrent portions of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(22))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCredit
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The effective interest rate during the reporting period.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityInterestRateDuringPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The minimum amount the entity agreed to spend under the long-term purchase commitment.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis=meli_CitibankN.a.Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=meli_UruguayanSubsidiaryMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis=meli_BancoDeChileMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis=meli_ScotiabankChileMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=meli_LineOfCreditOneMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=meli_LineOfCreditOneEnteredDuring2018Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=meli_LineOfCreditTwoMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=meli_LineOfCreditTwoEnteredDuring2018Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=meli_UnsecuredLineOfCreditMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=meli_ArgentineanSubsidiariesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=meli_FulfillmentCenterFinanceLeasesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=meli_FulfillmentCenterFinanceLeasesOneMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=meli_FulfillmentCenterFinanceLeasesTwoMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=meli_FulfillmentCenterFinanceLeasesThreeMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=meli_FinanceLeaseContractsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Commitments and Contingencies (Narrative II) (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($) item	Dec. 31, 2018 item	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($) item
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Finance Leases	$ 10,080		$ 10,080
Purchase Commitment, Number Of Units \| item			1,290,000
Long-term Purchase Commitment, Amount			$ 54,720
Citibank N.A. [Member] \| Uruguayan Subsidiary [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of line of credit facility \| item	2
Banco De Chile [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of line of credit facility \| item			2
Scotiabank Chile [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of line of credit facility \| item	2	2
Line of credit, Fixed interest rate			3.66%
Line Of Credit One [Member] \| Citibank N.A. [Member] \| Uruguayan Subsidiary [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Outstanding line of credit	$ 859		$ 859
Line of credit, Fixed interest rate			11.39%
Line Of Credit One [Member] \| Banco De Chile [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Outstanding line of credit	8,858		$ 8,858
Line of credit, Fixed interest rate			3.60%
Line Of Credit One [Member] \| Scotiabank Chile [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Outstanding line of credit	14,745		$ 14,745
Line of credit, Fixed interest rate			3.20%
Line Of Credit One, Entered During 2018 [Member] \| Scotiabank Chile [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Outstanding line of credit	4,428		$ 4,428
Line Of Credit Two [Member] \| Citibank N.A. [Member] \| Uruguayan Subsidiary [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Outstanding line of credit	2,282		2,282
Line Of Credit Two [Member] \| Banco De Chile [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Outstanding line of credit	7,365		$ 7,365
Line of credit, Fixed interest rate			3.24%
Line Of Credit Two [Member] \| Scotiabank Chile [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Outstanding line of credit	7,366		$ 7,366
Line of credit, Fixed interest rate			3.24%
Line Of Credit Two, Entered During 2018 [Member] \| Scotiabank Chile [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Outstanding line of credit	2,952		$ 2,952
Unsecured Line Of Credit [Member] \| Argentinean Subsidiaries [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Outstanding line of credit	$ 11,987		$ 11,987
Debt weight average rate	60.70%		60.70%
Debt term			3 months
Unsecured Line Of Credit [Member] \| Citibank N.A. [Member] \| Argentinean Subsidiaries [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Outstanding line of credit	$ 6,583		$ 6,583
Line of credit, Fixed interest rate			85.00%
Unsecured Line Of Credit [Member] \| Citibank N.A. [Member] \| Uruguayan Subsidiary [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Outstanding line of credit	11,222		$ 11,222
Line of credit, Fixed interest rate			9.11%
Fulfillment Center Finance Leases [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of finance lease contracts \| item			3
Fulfillment Center Finance Leases One [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Finance Leases	$ 5,469		$ 5,469
Debt instrument, interest rate	6.17%		6.17%
Lessee, Finance Lease, Term of Contract	5 years		5 years
Fulfillment Center Finance Leases Two [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Finance Leases	$ 1,022		$ 1,022
Debt instrument, interest rate	9.00%		9.00%
Lessee, Finance Lease, Term of Contract	3 years 9 months		3 years 9 months
Fulfillment Center Finance Leases Three [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Finance Leases	$ 134		$ 134
Debt instrument, interest rate	10.78%		10.78%
Debt term			9 months
Finance Lease Contracts [Member] \| Argentinean Subsidiaries [Member]
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items]
Finance Leases	$ 3,455		$ 3,455
Debt weight average rate	68.50%		68.50%
Debt term			4 years