Share-Based Payments - Additional Information (Detail)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) Age $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($) $ / shares
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Mattel, Inc. 2010 Equity and Long-Term Compensation Plan expiration date	Mar. 26, 2025
Number of shares, plus other considerations, used to determine the maximum number of shares of common stock available for grant under the Mattel, Inc. 2010 Equity and Long-Term Compensation Plan \| shares	77,000,000
Remaining number of shares of common stock available for grant under the Mattel, Inc. 2010 Equity and Long-Term Compensation Plan \| shares	33,000,000
Total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested share-based payments	$ 85,400,000
Weighted average period for unrecognized compensation cost expected to be recognized (in years)	2 years 5 days
Share-based compensation	$ 56,691,000	$ 51,993,000	$ 61,651,000
Weighted average grant date fair value of stock options granted \| $ / shares	$ 1.97	$ 4.57	$ 8.80
Intrinsic value of stock options exercised	$ 4,900,000	$ 24,100,000	$ 156,600,000
Intrinsic value of stock options outstanding	$ 49,700,000
Weighted average remaining life of stock options outstanding (in years)	7 years 11 months 2 days
Intrinsic value of stock options exercisable	$ 16,300,000
Weighted average remaining life of stock options exercisable (in years)	5 years 11 months 20 days
Stock options vested or expected to vest \| shares	17,600,000
Intrinsic value of stock options vested or expected to vest	$ 48,300,000
Weighted average exercise price of stock options vested or expected to vest \| $ / shares	$ 27.48
Weighted average remaining life of stock options vested or expected to vest (in years)	7 years 10 months 21 days
Approximate stock options vested \| shares	2,000,000
Approximate total grant date fair value of stock options vested	$ 12,000,000	12,000,000	13,000,000
Cash received for stock option exercises	$ 14,995,000	43,299,000	134,506,000
Restricted stock units expected to vest \| shares	3,600,000
Weighted average grant date fair value of restricted stock units expected to vest \| $ / shares	$ 29.11
Total grant date fair value of restricted stock units vested	$ 43,200,000	42,500,000	32,800,000
Restricted Stock Unit Compensation Expense, Excluding Performance Restricted Stock Unit Compensation Expense
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based compensation	41,500,000	39,500,000	38,200,000
Income tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements	11,000,000	10,600,000	10,600,000
Performance Restricted Stock Unit Compensation Expense
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based compensation	0	0	11,400,000
Income tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements	$ 0	0	4,200,000
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
General vesting period	3 years
Age requirement for accelerated vesting \| Age	55
Service period requirement for accelerated vesting	5 years
Accelerated vesting period for individuals who meet the age and service requirements	6 months
Number of shares issued per RSU award (in shares) \| shares	3
Stock Options
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of shares issued per RSU award (in shares) \| shares	1,000
Share-based compensation	$ 15,200,000	12,500,000	12,100,000
Income tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements	$ 5,500,000	$ 3,500,000	$ 3,800,000
Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs)
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of shares issued per RSU award (in shares) \| shares	1,000
Restricted Stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of shares issued per RSU award (in shares) \| shares	3,000
Nonqualified Stock Options
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Minimum grant date fair value of nonqualified stock options as a percentage of the fair value of Mattel's common stock	100.00%
General vesting period	3 years
Age requirement for accelerated vesting \| Age	55
Service period requirement for accelerated vesting	5 years
Accelerated vesting period for individuals who meet the age and service requirements	6 months
Nonqualified Stock Options \| Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock option expire from date of grant, period	10 years

Age requirement for accelerated vesting under the 2010 Equity and Long-Term Compensation Plan.

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Number of Shares Issued Per Award

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Restricted stock units expected to vest.

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Service period requirement for accelerated vesting under the 2010 Equity and Long-Term Compensation Plan.

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Number of shares, plus the number of shares that remained available for issuance under the 2005 Equity Compensation Plan on May 12, 2010, and any shares subject to awards outstanding under the 2005 Equity Compensation Plan that on or after May 12, 2010 are forfeited, used to determine the maximum number of shares of common stock available for grant under the Mattel, Inc. 2010 Equity and Long-Term Compensation Plan.

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Unrecognized cost of unvested share-based compensation awards.

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Weighted average period over which unrecognized compensation is expected to be recognized for equity-based compensation plans, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

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The total recognized tax benefit related to compensation cost for equity-based payment arrangements recognized in income during the period.

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The cash inflow associated with the amount received from holders exercising their stock options. This item inherently excludes any excess tax benefit, which the entity may have realized and reported separately.

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Period which an employee's right to exercise an award is no longer contingent on satisfaction of either a service condition, market condition or a performance condition, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

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Fair value of share-based awards for which the grantee gained the right by satisfying service and performance requirements, to receive or retain shares or units, other instruments, or cash.

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Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

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Amount of accumulated difference between fair value of underlying shares on dates of exercise and exercise price on options exercised (or share units converted) into shares.

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The weighted average grant-date fair value of options granted during the reporting period as calculated by applying the disclosed option pricing methodology.

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Amount by which the current fair value of the underlying stock exceeds the exercise price of options outstanding.

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Amount by which the current fair value of the underlying stock exceeds the exercise price of fully vested and expected to vest options outstanding.

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As of the balance sheet date, the number of shares into which fully vested and expected to vest stock options outstanding can be converted under the option plan.

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As of the balance sheet date, the weighted-average exercise price for outstanding stock options that are fully vested or expected to vest.

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Period from grant date that an equity-based award expires, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

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Amount of difference between fair value of the underlying shares reserved for issuance and exercise price of vested portions of options outstanding and currently exercisable.

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Weighted average remaining contractual term for option awards outstanding, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

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Weighted average remaining contractual term for fully vested and expected to vest options outstanding, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

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Fair value of options vested. Excludes equity instruments other than options, for example, but not limited to, share units, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock.

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