Common Stock, Dividends, Number of Payment Installments

No definition available.

Name:	arco_CommonStockDividendsNumberofPaymentInstallments
Namespace Prefix:	arco_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The reporting currency-denominated asset value.

+ 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

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

- Definition

Aggregate dividends paid during the period for each share of common stock outstanding.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187085-122770

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareCashPaid
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Aggregate dividends declared during the period for each share of common stock outstanding.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of difference between the reported amount and the reporting currency-denominated amount. The default debit balance is based on the reported amount that is greater that the reporting currency-denominated amount.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DifferenceBetweenReportedAmountAndReportingCurrencyDenominatedAmountValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Foreign exchange rate used to translate amounts denominated in functional currency to reporting currency.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyExchangeRateTranslation1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Detail information of subsequent event by type. User is expected to use existing line items from elsewhere in the taxonomy as the primary line items for this disclosure, which is further associated with dimension and member elements pertaining to a subsequent event.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsequentEventLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis=us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=country_VE
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	arco_ExchangeRateTypeAxis=arco_TipodeCambioComplementarioDICOMMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis=us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis=arco_AssetsExcludingCashandCashEquivalentsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis=arco_PropertyPlantandEquipmentandAdvancestoSuppliersMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Subsequent Events (Narrative) (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions			12 Months Ended
	Apr. 05, 2018 $ / shares	Mar. 20, 2018 installment $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2016 $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2015 $ / shares	Feb. 05, 2018 / $
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Dividends to Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc.'s shareholders, per share (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares			$ 0	$ 0	$ 0.24
Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Common stock, dividends per share, declared (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares		$ 0.10
Common stock, dividends, number of payment installments \| installment		2
Dividends to Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc.'s shareholders, per share (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	$ 0.05
Venezuela [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Net monetary position			$ (9.7)
Venezuela [Member] \| DICOM [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Foreign currency exchange rate (in VEF per USD) \| / $						25,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member] \| Venezuela [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Assets, reporting currency denominated			13.0
Assets, Excluding Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member] \| Venezuela [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Assets, reporting currency denominated			75.2
Property, Plant and Equipment, and Advances to Suppliers [Member] \| Venezuela [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Assets, reporting currency denominated			$ 33.5