Long-Term Debt (Details Textual) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011
Long-term Debt Type (Textuals) [Abstract]
Remaining borrowing capacity under revolving credit facility	$ 240,439
Additional Long-term Debt (Textuals) [Abstract]
Balance outstanding under revolving credit facility	0
Reduction in outstanding senior credit facility	128,398
Optional prepayment on senior credit facility	110,000
7 7/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2018[Member]
Long-term Debt Type (Textuals) [Abstract]
Interest rate on senior subordinate notes	7.875%
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Long-term Debt Type (Textuals) [Abstract]
Letter of credit outstanding	$ 9,561
6 5/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2015 [Member]
Long-term Debt Type (Textuals) [Abstract]
Interest rate on senior subordinate notes	6.625%
6 5/8% Senior Subordinated Notes - Series B due 2015 [Member]
Long-term Debt Type (Textuals) [Abstract]
Interest rate on senior subordinate notes	6.625%
6 5/8% Senior Subordinated Notes - Series C due 2015 [Member]
Long-term Debt Type (Textuals) [Abstract]
Interest rate on senior subordinate notes	6.625%
9 3/4% Senior Notes due 2014 [Member]
Long-term Debt Type (Textuals) [Abstract]
Interest rate on senior subordinate notes	9.75%
September 30, 2012 - March 31, 2014 [Member]
Long-term Debt Type (Textuals) [Abstract]
Principal payment date	September 30, 2012 — March 31, 2014
June 30, 2014 - March 31, 2015 [Member]
Long-term Debt Type (Textuals) [Abstract]
Principal payment date	June 30, 2014 — March 31, 2015
June 30, 2015 - September 30, 2015 [Member]
Long-term Debt Type (Textuals) [Abstract]
Principal payment date	June 30, 2015 — September 30, 2015
December 31, 2015 [Member]
Long-term Debt Type (Textuals) [Abstract]
Principal payment date	December 31, 2015
March 31, 2016 - September 30, 2016 [Member]
Long-term Debt Type (Textuals) [Abstract]
Principal payment date	March 31, 2016 - September 30, 2016
December 31, 2016 [Member]
Long-term Debt Type (Textuals) [Abstract]
Principal payment date	December 31, 2016

Additional Long-term Debt.

Name:	lamr_AdditionalLongTermDebtTextualsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	lamr
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line of credit facility periodic optional prepayment, principal.

+ Details

Name:	lamr_LineOfCreditFacilityPeriodicOptionalPrepaymentPrincipal
Namespace Prefix:	lamr
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Long-term Debt.

+ Details

Name:	lamr_LongTermDebtTypeTextualsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	lamr
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Description of the frequency of periodic payments (monthly, quarterly, annual).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 22
-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 129
-Paragraph 2, 4

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFrequencyOfPeriodicPayment
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Interest rate stated in the contractual debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 22
-Article 5

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of letters of credit outstanding under debtor-in-possession financing arrangement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Statement of Position (SOP)
-Number 90-7

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtorInPossessionFinancingLettersOfCreditOutstanding
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount borrowed under the credit facility as of the balance-sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 19, 22
-Article 5

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Net increase or decrease in the carrying amount of the debt instrument for the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 08
-Paragraph f
-Article 4

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of borrowing capacity currently available under the credit facility (current borrowing capacity less the amount of borrowings outstanding).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 19, 22
-Article 5

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant