Common Stock, Closing Price Per Share

No definition available.

Name:	meli_CommonStockClosingPricePerShare
Namespace Prefix:	meli_
Data Type:	dtr-types:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Debt Conversion, Converted Instrument, Principal Amount Used Per Conversion

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	meli_DebtConversionConvertedInstrumentPrincipalAmountUsedPerConversion
Namespace Prefix:	meli_
Data Type:	srt-types:perUnitItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Debt Instrument, Fair Value Of Liability Component And Net Carrying Amount Of Liability

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Debt Instrument, Remaining Consideration Allocated To Reacquisition Of Equity Component

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Debt Instrument, Total Amount Paid

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Number Of Notes Converted

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The value of the financial instrument(s) that the original debt is being converted into in a noncash (or part noncash) transaction. "Part noncash" refers to that portion of the transaction not resulting in cash receipts or cash payments in the period.

+ References

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

- Definition

Dividend or interest rate associated with the financial instrument issued in exchange for the original debt being converted in a noncash or part noncash transaction. Noncash are transactions that affect recognized assets or liabilities but that do not result in cash receipts or cash payments. Part noncash refers to that portion of the transaction not resulting in cash receipts or cash payments.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtConversionConvertedInstrumentRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, before unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt. Includes, but is not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt.

+ References

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

- Definition

The price per share of the conversion feature embedded in the debt instrument.

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+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleConversionPrice1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	dtr-types:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount by which the convertible debt's if-converted value exceeds its principle amount at the balance sheet date, regardless of whether the instrument is currently convertible. This element applies to public companies only.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

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+ Details

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

- Definition

Fair value portion of debt instrument payable, including, but not limited to, notes payable and loans payable.

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

- Definition

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

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Date when the debt instrument is scheduled to be fully repaid, in YYYY-MM-DD format.

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+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentMaturityDate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Fair value amount of debt instrument that was repurchased.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount, after accumulated amortization, of debt premium.

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+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount, after accumulated amortization, of debt issuance costs. Includes, but is not limited to, legal, accounting, underwriting, printing, and registration costs.

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

- Definition

Difference between the fair value of payments made and the carrying amount of debt which is extinguished prior to maturity.

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

- 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.

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

- Definition

The fee, expressed as a percentage of the line of credit facility, for the line of credit facility regardless of whether the facility has been used.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCommitmentFeePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Date the credit facility terminates, in YYYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityExpirationDate1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The effective interest rate during the reporting period.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableRateAxis=us-gaap_SecuredOvernightFinancingRateSofrOvernightIndexSwapRateMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesAxis=srt_SubsidiariesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=meli_SustainabilityNotesDue2026Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=meli_NoteDue2031Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=meli_SustainabilityNotes2026Member
Namespace Prefix:
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Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=meli_TwoThousandTwentyEightConvertibleSeniorNotesMember
Namespace Prefix:
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Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=meli_SevenNotesConvertedMember
Namespace Prefix:
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Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtMember
Namespace Prefix:
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Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

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Loans Payable And Other Financial Liabilities (Narrative) (Details)		1 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Aug. 24, 2018 USD ($) $ / shares $ / item	Jan. 31, 2021 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2022 USD ($) item $ / shares $ / item	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($)	Jan. 14, 2021 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Balance of credit amounted			$ 0
Line of Credit Facility, Commitment Fee Percentage			0.3125%
Line of Credit Facility, Expiration Date			Mar. 31, 2025
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) Overnight Index Swap Rate [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit, Fixed interest rate			1.25%
Revolving Credit Facility [Member] \| Subsidiaries [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity			$ 400,000,000
2.375% Sustainability Notes Due 2026 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount					$ 400,000,000
Debt instrument, interest rate					2.375%
Debt instrument, maturity date			Jan. 14, 2026
Notes Due 2031 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount					$ 700,000,000
Debt instrument, interest rate					3.125%
Debt instrument, maturity date			Jan. 14, 2031
2026 Sustainability Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt issuance costs					$ 11,000,000
2028 Convertible Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Loss on extinguishment of debt		$ 49,000,000
Paid in premium		19,000,000
Fair value of the liability component and the net carrying amount of the liability		(30,000,000)
Remaining consideration allocated to reacquisition of equity component		1,484,000,000
Repurchased principal amount		440,000,000
Total amount paid		$ 1,865,000,000
Seven Notes Converted [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt conversion, converted instrument, principal amount			$ 7,000
Number of notes converted \| item			7
Convertible Senior Notes [Member] \| Initial Issuance - 2028 Convertible Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount	$ 800,000,000
Convertible Senior Notes [Member] \| Additional Issuance - 2028 Convertible Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount						$ 80,000,000
Convertible Senior Notes [Member] \| 2028 Convertible Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount	$ 880,000,000					$ 880,000,000
Debt instrument, interest rate	2.00%					2.00%
Debt instrument, maturity date			Aug. 15, 2028
Debt issuance costs			$ 4,000,000
Convertible senior notes, conversion rate	2.2553%
Converted instrument, principal amount used per conversion \| $ / item	1,000		100
Convertible senior notes, conversion price \| $ / shares	$ 443.40
Estimated fair value			$ 717,000,000	$ 1,367,000,000
Common stock, closing price per share \| $ / shares			$ 636.87
Debt instrument convertible, if-converted value in excess of principal			$ 192,000,000
Debt instrument outstanding			$ 439,000,000