Cash Equivalents, Maturity Period

No definition available.

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- 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

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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Net monetary assets denominated in Venezuelan bolivar fuerte.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Pre Tax Charge In Statement Of Operations for Changes in Currency Exchange Rate

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Pre Tax Charge In Statement Of Operations on Subsidiary Closure

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

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

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Foreign exchange rate used to remeasure amounts denominated in a currency other than functional currency into functional currency.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 830
-SubTopic 30
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6897108&loc=SL6897125-166521

+ Details

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Period Type:	instant

- 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

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Period Type:	duration

- Details

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- Details

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Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

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- Details

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Balance Type:
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- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) VEF / $	Feb. 18, 2016 VEF / $
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 (less than)	0.01%
Net monetary assets denominated in Venezuelan bolivar fuerte	$ 22
Pre tax charge on cessation of Venezuelan subsidiary	$ 95
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	15 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
Effect of using December 2015 SIMADI Rate
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Exchange rate for translation (in VEF) \| VEF / $	198.70
Pre tax charge on devaluation of venezuelan bolivar fuerte	$ 22
Effect of using February 2016 SIMADI Rate
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Pre tax charge on devaluation of venezuelan bolivar fuerte	$ 8
Subsequent Event \| Effect of using February 2016 SIMADI Rate
Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Exchange rate for translation (in VEF) \| VEF / $		10.00