v2.4.1.9

Summary of Revenues and Pre-Tax Loss Generated by Angel Dot Com Business In Addition to Pre-Tax Gain on Sale Recorded (Detail) (Angel.Com, USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Angel.Com
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Angel.com revenues	$ 0us-gaap_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationRevenue / us-gaap_SignificantAcquisitionsAndDisposalsByTransactionAxis = mstr_AngelComMember	$ 6,320us-gaap_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationRevenue / us-gaap_SignificantAcquisitionsAndDisposalsByTransactionAxis = mstr_AngelComMember	$ 28,882us-gaap_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationRevenue / us-gaap_SignificantAcquisitionsAndDisposalsByTransactionAxis = mstr_AngelComMember
Angel.com pre-tax loss	0us-gaap_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationOperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_SignificantAcquisitionsAndDisposalsByTransactionAxis = mstr_AngelComMember	986us-gaap_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationOperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_SignificantAcquisitionsAndDisposalsByTransactionAxis = mstr_AngelComMember	2,976us-gaap_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationOperatingIncomeLoss / us-gaap_SignificantAcquisitionsAndDisposalsByTransactionAxis = mstr_AngelComMember
MicroStrategy pre-tax gain on sale	$ 0us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationGainLossFromDisposalOfDiscontinuedOperationBeforeIncomeTax / us-gaap_SignificantAcquisitionsAndDisposalsByTransactionAxis = mstr_AngelComMember	$ 94,925us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationGainLossFromDisposalOfDiscontinuedOperationBeforeIncomeTax / us-gaap_SignificantAcquisitionsAndDisposalsByTransactionAxis = mstr_AngelComMember	$ 0us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationGainLossFromDisposalOfDiscontinuedOperationBeforeIncomeTax / us-gaap_SignificantAcquisitionsAndDisposalsByTransactionAxis = mstr_AngelComMember

X

- Definition

Amount of gain (loss), before tax expense or benefit and not previously recognized, resulting from the sale of a business component.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 205

-SubTopic 20

-Section 45

-Paragraph 3

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6892542&loc=d3e957-107759



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 205

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6360339&loc=d3e1361-107760

+ Details

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

X

- Definition

Amount of operating income or loss attributable to the disposal group, including a component of the entity (discontinued operation), during the reporting period.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 205

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6360339&loc=d3e1361-107760

+ Details

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

X

- Definition

Amount of sales or other form of revenues attributable to the disposal group, including a component of the entity (discontinued operation), during the reporting period.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 205

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6360339&loc=d3e1361-107760

+ Details

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

X

- Details

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