v2.4.1.9

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Apr. 30, 2014 | Sep. 30, 2013
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Estimated salvage value | 70.00%us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentSalvageValuePercentage |  |  |  |
Capitalized software development costs, net of accumulated amortization | $ 13,469,000us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareNet | $ 10,295,000us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareNet |  |  |
Capitalized computer software, amortization | 5,200,000us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAmortization | 5,500,000us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAmortization | 4,800,000us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAmortization |  |
Additions to capitalized software development costs | 8,400,000us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAdditions | 5,400,000us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAdditions | 8,100,000us-gaap_CapitalizedComputerSoftwareAdditions |  |
Long-term purchase commitment amount | 136,400,000mstr_FutureMinimumPurchaseCommitmentsByCustomers | 119,700,000mstr_FutureMinimumPurchaseCommitmentsByCustomers |  |  |
Variance below minimum VSOE rate | 10.00%mstr_VarianceBelowMinimumVsoeRate |  |  |  |
Advertising costs | 3,000,000us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense | 1,900,000us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense | 4,100,000us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense |  |
Common stock, conversion ratio | One | One |  |  |
Transaction gains (losses) arising from transactions denominated in foreign currencies | 5,300,000us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax | (3,300,000)us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax | (2,000,000)us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyTransactionGainLossBeforeTax |  |
Cumulative foreign currency translation amount | $ (4,400,000)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax | $ (800,000)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax | $ (1,500,000)us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax |  |
Class A |  |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Common stock, voting rights, per share | One | One |  |  |
Class A | 2013 Plan |  |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Share-based compensation, stock authorized |  |  |  | 1,500,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAuthorized / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = mstr_StockIncentivePlanTwentyThirteenMember / us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis = us-gaap_CommonClassAMember | 600,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAuthorized / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = mstr_StockIncentivePlanTwentyThirteenMember / us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis = us-gaap_CommonClassAMember
Class A | 2013 Plan | Non Employee Directors |  |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Number of automatic annual stock option grants authorized to each of the Company's non-employee directors beginning 2015 |  |  |  | 5,000mstr_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAuthorizedPerParticipant / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = mstr_StockIncentivePlanTwentyThirteenMember / us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis = us-gaap_CommonClassAMember / us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis = mstr_NonEmployeeDirectorsMember |
Class B Convertible |  |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Common stock, voting rights, per share | Ten | Ten |  |  |
Computer Equipment And Purchased Software |  |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Estimated useful lives of assets, years | 3 years |  |  |  |
Office Equipment And Automobiles |  |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Estimated useful lives of assets, years | 5 years |  |  |  |
Office Furniture And Corporate Aircraft |  |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Estimated useful lives of assets, years | 10 years |  |  |  |
Software Development |  |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Estimated useful lives of assets, years | 3 years |  |  |  |

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- Definition Accumulated adjustment, net of tax, that results from the process of translating subsidiary financial statements and foreign equity investments into the reporting currency from the functional currency of the reporting entity, net of reclassification of realized foreign currency translation gains or losses. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 220 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 11 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36458714&loc=d3e637-108580 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 220 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 14 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36458714&loc=d3e681-108580 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 220 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 14A -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36458714&loc=SL7669686-108580 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 220 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 10A -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36458714&loc=SL7669646-108580 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 830 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 12 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6915805&loc=d3e32022-110900 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 830 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6450520&loc=d3e32583-110901 + Details
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- Definition Amount charged to advertising expense for the period, which are expenses incurred with the objective of increasing revenue for a specified brand, product or product line. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 720 -SubTopic 35 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6420018&loc=d3e36677-107848 + Details
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- Definition For each income statement presented, the amount charged to expense for amortization of capitalized computer software costs. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 985 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6501960&loc=d3e128487-111756 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 985 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6501960&loc=d3e128462-111756 + Details
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- Definition The carrying amount of capitalized computer software costs net of accumulated amortization as of the balance sheet date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 985 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6501960&loc=d3e128487-111756 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 985 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6501960&loc=d3e128462-111756 + Details
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- Definition Amount before tax of foreign currency transaction realized and unrealized gain (loss) recognized in the income statement. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 830 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6450189&loc=d3e30690-110894 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 830 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6450222&loc=d3e30840-110895 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 830 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6450189&loc=d3e30700-110894 + Details
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- Definition Stated as a percentage, the estimated or actual value of the asset at the end of its useful life or when it is no longer serviceable (cannot be used for its original purpose) divided by its [historical] capitalized cost. + References No definition available. + Details
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