Increase (decrease) in deferred rent.

No definition available.

Name:	mstr_IncreaseDecreaseInDeferredRent
Namespace Prefix:	mstr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amortization period of cost capitalized in obtaining or fulfilling contract with customer, 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 340
-SubTopic 40
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68051541&loc=SL49131251-203054

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of cumulative effect of the change in accounting principle or new accounting pronouncement on retained earnings or other components of equity or net assets in the statement of financial position as of the beginning of the earliest period presented.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 250
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109234566&loc=d3e22499-107794

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 250
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109234566&loc=d3e22583-107794

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 250
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109234566&loc=d3e22580-107794

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NewAccountingPronouncementOrChangeInAccountingPrincipleCumulativeEffectOfChangeOnEquityOrNetAssets1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
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_NewAccountingPronouncementsOrChangeInAccountingPrincipleLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

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

+ References

Reference 1: 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_OperatingLeaseLiability
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of lessee's right to use underlying asset under operating lease.

+ References

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

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AdjustmentsForNewAccountingPronouncementsAxis=us-gaap_AccountingStandardsUpdate201409Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InitialApplicationPeriodCumulativeEffectTransitionAxis=us-gaap_DifferenceBetweenRevenueGuidanceInEffectBeforeAndAfterTopic606Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis=mstr_DeferredRevenueMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis=mstr_DeferredTaxAssetsNetOfDeferredTaxLiabilitiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis=us-gaap_OtherNoncurrentAssetsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis=us-gaap_OtherCurrentAssetsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AdjustmentsForNewAccountingPronouncementsAxis=us-gaap_AccountingStandardsUpdate201616Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AdjustmentsForNewAccountingPronouncementsAxis=us-gaap_AccountingStandardsUpdate201602Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis=us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Recent Accounting Standards - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)	Jan. 01, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Jan. 01, 2018	Jan. 01, 2016
New Accounting Pronouncements Or Change In Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Capitalized cost amortization period		3 years
ASU 2014-09
New Accounting Pronouncements Or Change In Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Capitalized cost amortization period		3 years
ASU 2014-09 \| Difference between Revenue Guidance in Effect before and after Topic 606
New Accounting Pronouncements Or Change In Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings				$ 13,000,000
ASU 2014-09 \| Difference between Revenue Guidance in Effect before and after Topic 606 \| Deferred Revenue
New Accounting Pronouncements Or Change In Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings				(12,900,000)
ASU 2014-09 \| Difference between Revenue Guidance in Effect before and after Topic 606 \| Deferred Tax Assets Net of Deferred Tax Liabilities
New Accounting Pronouncements Or Change In Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings				5,200,000
ASU 2014-09 \| Difference between Revenue Guidance in Effect before and after Topic 606 \| Other Non-current Assets
New Accounting Pronouncements Or Change In Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings				(4,400,000)
ASU 2014-09 \| Difference between Revenue Guidance in Effect before and after Topic 606 \| Other Current Assets
New Accounting Pronouncements Or Change In Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings				$ (900,000)
Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-16
New Accounting Pronouncements Or Change In Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings			$ 0
ASU 2016-02 \| Subsequent Event
New Accounting Pronouncements Or Change In Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Recognition of additional ROU assets	$ 88,000,000
Recognition of additional lease liabilities	117,000,000
Reduction in deferred rent	$ 29,000,000