Franchise Arrangements (Schedule of Future Minimum Rent Payments Under Franchised Agreements) (Details) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Franchise Arrangements [Line Items]
2017	$ 25,683
2018	24,196
2019	23,051
2020	21,190
2021	19,304
Thereafter	87,287
Total	200,711
Owned Sites [Member]
Franchise Arrangements [Line Items]
2017	5,318
2018	4,824
2019	4,358
2020	3,954
2021	3,646
Thereafter	16,009
Total	38,109
Leased Sites [Member]
Franchise Arrangements [Line Items]
2017	20,365
2018	19,372
2019	18,693
2020	17,236
2021	15,658
Thereafter	71,278
Total	$ 162,602

Franchise Arrangements [Line Items]

No definition available.

Name:	arco_FranchiseArrangementsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	arco_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Future minimum rental payments in aggregate as of the balance sheet date under operating leases.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 840
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6454179&loc=d3e41551-112718

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsReceivable
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Future rental payments receivable within one year of the balance sheet date under an operating lease.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsReceivableCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Future rental payments receivable within the fifth year from the balance sheet date under an operating lease.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsReceivableInFiveYears
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Future rental payments receivable within the fourth year from the balance sheet date under an operating lease.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsReceivableInFourYears
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Future rental payments receivable within the third year from the balance sheet date under an operating lease.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsReceivableInThreeYears
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Future rental payments receivable within the second year from the balance sheet date under an operating lease.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsReceivableInTwoYears
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Future minimum lease payments receivable under operating leases for periods greater than five years following the balance sheet date.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OperatingLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsReceivableThereafter
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	arco_FranchiseSiteAxis=arco_OwnedSitesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	arco_FranchiseSiteAxis=arco_LeasedSitesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: