v2.4.1.9

Reconciliation of Effective Income Tax Rate (Detail) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012
Schedule Of Effective Tax Rates Line Items |  |  |
Income tax expense at federal statutory rate | 35.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate | 35.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate | 35.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate
State taxes, net of federal tax effect | (4.30%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes | 2.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes | 3.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes
Foreign earnings taxed at different rates | 2.90%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential | (18.30%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential | (21.50%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential
Withholding tax | 14.30%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationDeductionsOther | 9.70%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationDeductionsOther | 6.30%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationDeductionsOther
Foreign tax credit | (9.60%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCreditsForeign | (5.40%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCreditsForeign | (3.40%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCreditsForeign
Other international components | 0.80%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments | 3.40%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments | 1.90%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments
Change in valuation allowance | 21.10%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance | (0.80%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance | 0.10%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance
Deferred tax adjustments and rate changes | (4.90%)mstr_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAdjustmentToDeferredTaxAndRateChanges | (2.80%)mstr_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAdjustmentToDeferredTaxAndRateChanges | 0.60%mstr_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAdjustmentToDeferredTaxAndRateChanges
Meals and entertainment | 5.90%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseMealsAndEntertainment | 4.50%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseMealsAndEntertainment | 2.90%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseMealsAndEntertainment
Other tax credits | 2.50%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseOther | 2.50%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseOther | 2.60%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseOther
Subpart F income | 4.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationRepatriationOfForeignEarnings | 2.40%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationRepatriationOfForeignEarnings | 1.20%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationRepatriationOfForeignEarnings
Research and development tax credit | (13.70%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCreditsResearch | (12.60%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCreditsResearch | 0.70%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCreditsResearch
Other permanent differences | (1.60%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherReconcilingItemsPercent | 0.80%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherReconcilingItemsPercent | 0.60%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherReconcilingItemsPercent
Release of unrecognized tax benefits | 0.00%mstr_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationReleaseOfUnrecognizedTaxBenefits | (86.00%)mstr_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationReleaseOfUnrecognizedTaxBenefits | (1.90%)mstr_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationReleaseOfUnrecognizedTaxBenefits
Total | 54.40%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations | (58.50%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations | 30.20%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations
Non-deductible Officers Compensation |  |  |
Schedule Of Effective Tax Rates Line Items |  |  |
Other tax credits | 2.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseOther / mstr_IncomeTaxReconciliationAxis = mstr_NonDeductableOfficersCompensationMember | 7.10%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseOther / mstr_IncomeTaxReconciliationAxis = mstr_NonDeductableOfficersCompensationMember | 2.10%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseOther / mstr_IncomeTaxReconciliationAxis = mstr_NonDeductableOfficersCompensationMember

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- Definition Percentage of the difference between reported income tax expense (benefit) and expected income tax expense (benefit) computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to the release of unrecognized tax benefits. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Percentage of the difference between reported income tax expense (benefit) and expected income tax expense (benefit) computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to changes in the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 12 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32687-109319 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 6.I) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34349781&loc=d3e330036-122817 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 13 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32698-109319 + Details
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- Definition Percentage of the difference between reported income tax expense (benefit) and expected income tax expense (benefit) computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income (loss) from continuing operations applicable to statutory income tax expense (benefit) outside of the country of domicile. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 12 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32687-109319 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 6.I) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34349781&loc=d3e330036-122817 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 13 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32698-109319 + Details
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- Definition Percentage of the difference between reported income tax expense (benefit) and expected income tax expense (benefit) computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to meals and entertainment expense. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 12 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32687-109319 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 6.I) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34349781&loc=d3e330036-122817 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 13 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32698-109319 + Details
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