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

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.

No definition available.