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Share-Based Payments - Additional Information (Detail)	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Share-Based Payments - Additional Information (Detail)	Sep. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) Age $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) $ / shares
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based compensation	$ 47,582,000	$ 48,915,000	$ 67,119,000	$ 53,950,000
Total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested share-based payments		$ 93,000,000
Weighted average period for unrecognized compensation cost expected to be recognized		2 years 2 months 6 days
Weighted average grant date fair value of stock options granted (USD per share) \| $ / shares		$ 5.46	$ 3.37	$ 4.09
Intrinsic value of stock options exercised		$ 0	$ 500,000	$ 15,800,000
Intrinsic value of stock options outstanding		$ 0
Weighted average remaining life of stock options outstanding		5 years 5 months 16 days
Weighted average remaining life of stock options exercisable		4 years 2 months 20 days
Stock options vested or expected to vest (in shares) \| shares		21,500,000
Intrinsic value of stock options vested or expected to vest		$ 0
Weighted average exercise price of stock options vested or expected to vest (USD per share) \| $ / shares		$ 25.67
Weighted average remaining life of stock options vested or expected to vest		5 years 5 months 5 days
Approximate stock options vested (in shares) \| shares		4,000,000
Approximate total grant date fair value of stock options vested		$ 12,000,000	14,000,000	13,000,000
Cash received for stock option exercises	$ 1,768,000	$ 0	1,775,000	34,065,000
Restricted stock units expected to vest (in shares) \| shares		4,100,000
Weighted average grant date fair value of restricted stock units expected to vest (USD per share) \| $ / shares		$ 17.31
Total grant date fair value of restricted stock units vested		$ 43,200,000	57,000,000	53,100,000
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		37,500,000	55,200,000	40,200,000
Income tax benefits (expense) from share-based payment arrangements		$ (2,000,000)	(4,200,000)	11,500,000
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 (no later than)		10 years
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
Share-based compensation		$ 8,400,000	14,100,000	10,500,000
Income tax benefits (expense) from share-based payment arrangements		$ 0	0	6,800,000
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
Restricted Stock
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of shares issued per RSU award (in shares) \| shares		3
April 26, 2018 to April 26, 2021 and May 31, 2018 to May 31, 2021
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Weighted average grant date fair value of stock options granted (USD per share) \| $ / shares		$ 4.21
April 26, 2018 to April 26, 2021 and May 31, 2018 to May 31, 2021 \| Stock Options \| Minimum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Remaining number of shares of common stock available for grant under the Mattel, Inc. 2010 Equity and Long-Term Compensation Plan \| shares		0
April 26, 2018 to April 26, 2021 and May 31, 2018 to May 31, 2021 \| Stock Options \| Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Remaining number of shares of common stock available for grant under the Mattel, Inc. 2010 Equity and Long-Term Compensation Plan \| shares		1,300,000
January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2019 LTIP \| Performance Restricted Stock Unit Compensation Expense
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Income tax benefits (expense) from share-based payment arrangements		$ 0	0
January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2018 LTIP \| Performance Restricted Stock Unit Compensation Expense
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Income tax benefits (expense) from share-based payment arrangements		$ 0	0	1,200,000
January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2016 LTIP \| Performance Restricted Stock Unit Compensation Expense
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based compensation			0	0
Income tax benefits (expense) from share-based payment arrangements			$ 0	$ 0