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Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items] |  |  |
Income taxes (payable) receivable | $ (252) | $ 381 |
Income tax rate | 35.00% | 35.00% | 35.00%
Net operating loss | 217,691 | 186,374 | 139,508
Net operating loss subject to IRC 382 | 22,403 |  |
Amounts of credits available to offset federal income tax | 3,512 |  |
Net change in total valuation allowance | (332) | 410 | 1,653
Potential deferred tax liability | 6,741 |  |
Undistributed earnings of subsidiaries | 19,261 |  |
Unrecognized tax benefits | 75 | 135 | 322
Interest and penalty expense | 3 | 7 |
Interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions | 14 | 27 |
Unrecognized tax benefits, decreases resulting from expiration of statute of limitations | 40 |  |
Domestic Country [Member] |  |  |
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items] |  |  |
US net operating loss carry forward | 7,065 |  |
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member] |  |  |
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items] |  |  |
Amounts of credits available to offset federal income tax | 253 |  |
State net operating loss carry forward | 466,749 |  |
Valuation allowance for State and Local deferred tax assets | 3,410 | 3,742 |
U S [Member] |  |  |
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items] |  |  |
Net operating loss | 356,149 |  |
Puerto Rico [Member] |  |  |
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items] |  |  |
Net operating loss | 3,263 |  |
Puerto Rico net operating loss carry forward | 25,258 |  |
LAMAR MEDIA CORP [Member] |  |  |
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items] |  |  |
Income tax rate | 35.00% | 35.00% | 35.00%
Net operating loss | 218,027 | 186,732 | 139,508
Net operating loss subject to IRC 382 | 22,403 |  |
Amounts of credits available to offset federal income tax | 18,284 |  |
Net change in total valuation allowance | (356) | 407 | 1,106
Potential deferred tax liability | 6,741 |  |
Undistributed earnings of subsidiaries | 19,261 |  |
Unrecognized tax benefits | 75 | 135 | 322
Interest and penalty expense | 3 | 7 |
Interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions | 14 | 27 |
Unrecognized tax benefits, decreases resulting from expiration of statute of limitations | 40 |  |
Income taxes receivable | 0 | 599 |
LAMAR MEDIA CORP [Member] | Domestic Country [Member] |  |  |
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items] |  |  |
US net operating loss carry forward | 6,730 |  |
LAMAR MEDIA CORP [Member] | State and Local Jurisdiction [Member] |  |  |
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items] |  |  |
Amounts of credits available to offset federal income tax | 253 |  |
State net operating loss carry forward | 429,362 |  |
Valuation allowance for State and Local deferred tax assets | 2,836 | 3,192 |
LAMAR MEDIA CORP [Member] | U S [Member] |  |  |
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items] |  |  |
Net operating loss | 220,723 |  |
LAMAR MEDIA CORP [Member] | Puerto Rico [Member] |  |  |
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items] |  |  |
Net operating loss | 25,258 |  |
Puerto Rico net operating loss carry forward | $ 3,263 |  |

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- Definition The amount not recognized as of the balance sheet date of the estimated future tax effects attributable to undistributed earnings of subsidiaries and other recognized entities in countries outside the country of domicile which will increase future taxable income when such earnings are distributed into the country of domicile. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The domestic federal statutory tax rate applicable under enacted tax laws to the Company's pretax income from continuing operations for the period. The "statutory" tax rate is the regular tax rate if there are alternative tax systems. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 109 -Paragraph 47 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: 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 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 Reference 4: 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=6889476&loc=d3e330036-122817 + Details
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- Definition This element represents the total of accruals as of the date of the statement of financial position for interest recognized for an underpayment of income taxes computed by applying the applicable statutory rate of interest to the difference between a tax position recognized for financial reporting purposes and the amount previously taken or expected to be taken in a tax return of the entity and the amount of statutory penalties for a tax position claimed or expected to be claimed by the entity, in its tax return, that does not meet the minimum statutory threshold to avoid payment of penalties. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32718-109319 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name FASB Interpretation (FIN) -Number 48 -Paragraph 21 -Subparagraph c -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name FASB Interpretation (FIN) -Number 48 -Paragraph 15, 16 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. + Details
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