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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Catalog production and mailing costs amortization period	3 months
Percentage of Venezuelan subsidiary net sales to Mattel's consolidated net sales, maximum	0.10%mat_VenezuelanSubsidiaryNetSalesAsPercentageOfConsolidatedNetSalesRangeMaximum
Net monetary assets denominated in Venezuelan bolivar fuerte	$ 22mat_NetMonetaryAssetsDenominatedInVenezuelanBolivarFuerte
Pre tax charge on devaluation of venezuelan bolivar fuerte	$ 95mat_PreTaxChargeInStatementOfOperationsIfVenezuelanSubsidiaryCeasesOperations
Maximum
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Cash equivalents maturity period	3 months
Buildings | Maximum
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives, years	30 years
Buildings | Minimum
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives, years	10 years
Machinery and equipment | Maximum
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives, years	10 years
Machinery and equipment | Minimum
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives, years	3 years
Software | Maximum
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives, years	10 years
Software | Minimum
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives, years	3 years
Leasehold improvements | Maximum
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives, years	20 years
Leasehold improvements | Minimum
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives, years	10 years
Tools, dies, and molds
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Estimated useful lives, years	3 years

X

- Definition

Cash Equivalents, Maturity Period

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mat_CashEquivalentsMaturityPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	mat_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The period over which catalog production and mailing costs are amortized, starting from the date on which the catalogs are mailed.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mat_CatalogProductionAndMailingCostsAmortizationPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	mat_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Net monetary assets denominated in Venezuelan bolivar fuerte.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mat_NetMonetaryAssetsDenominatedInVenezuelanBolivarFuerte
Namespace Prefix:	mat_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Pre-tax charge to the consolidated statement of operations if operations of the Venezuelan subsidiary ceases.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mat_PreTaxChargeInStatementOfOperationsIfVenezuelanSubsidiaryCeasesOperations
Namespace Prefix:	mat_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Details

Name:	mat_SignificantAccountingPoliciesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	mat_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Maximum Venezuelan subsidiary net sales as a percentage of consolidated net sales.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mat_VenezuelanSubsidiaryNetSalesAsPercentageOfConsolidatedNetSalesRangeMaximum
Namespace Prefix:	mat_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Useful life of long lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. Examples include, but not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentUsefulLife
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=us-gaap_BuildingMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=us-gaap_LeaseholdImprovementsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=us-gaap_OtherMachineryAndEquipmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=us-gaap_SoftwareAndSoftwareDevelopmentCostsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=us-gaap_ToolsDiesAndMoldsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: