XML 94 R61.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.19.1

Summary of significant accounting policies (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Jan. 01, 2019
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Insurance claim receivables, related party receivables, value-added tax and other tax receivables | $ 16,809 |  |  |
Value added tax and other tax receivable |  | $ 16,215 |  |
Tangible asset impairment charges | 18,950 | 17,564 | $ 7,697 |
Accounts payable for outsourcing | 4,014 | 2,117 |  |
Sale of properties, equipment and restaurant businesses | 8,184 | 107,867 | 71,712 |
Company-operated restaurants |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Advertising expense | 120,839 | 130,277 | 117,250 |
Franchised operations |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Advertising expense | $ 43,940 | $ 46,536 | $ 36,374 |
Internal Used Software |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Finite-lived intangible asset, useful life | 3 years |  |  |
Minimum | Equipment |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Property and equipment, useful life | 3 years |  |  |
Maximum | Building |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Property and equipment, useful life | 40 years |  |  |
Maximum | Equipment |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Property and equipment, useful life | 12 years |  |  |
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 | Subsequent Event | Minimum |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Right-of-use asset |  |  |  | $ 860,000
Lease liabilities |  |  |  | 860,000
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 | Subsequent Event | Maximum |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Right-of-use asset |  |  |  | 920,000
Lease liabilities |  |  |  | $ 920,000

X
- Definition Accounts payable for outsourcing + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | arco_AccountsPayableForOutsourcing
Namespace Prefix: | arco_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Insurance Claim Receivables, Related Party Receivables, Value-Added Tax And Other Tax Receivables + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | arco_InsuranceClaimReceivablesRelatedPartyReceivablesValueAddedTaxAndOtherTaxReceivables
Namespace Prefix: | arco_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | arco_SummaryOfSignificantAccountingPoliciesLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | arco_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of value added taxes and other taxes. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | arco_ValueAddedTaxAndOtherTaxReceivable
Namespace Prefix: | arco_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount charged to advertising expense for the period, which are expenses incurred with the objective of increasing revenue for a specified brand, product or product line. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 720 -SubTopic 35 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6420018&loc=d3e36677-107848 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AdvertisingExpense
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Useful life of finite-lived intangible assets, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetUsefulLife
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of gain (loss) on sale or disposal of assets, including but not limited to property plant and equipment, intangible assets and equity in securities of subsidiaries or equity method investee. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109223946&loc=d3e3602-108585 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GainLossOnDispositionOfAssets1
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Present value of lessee's discounted obligation for lease payments from operating lease. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 842 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77888419&loc=SL77918627-209977 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_OperatingLeaseLiability
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of lessee's right to use underlying asset under operating lease. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 842 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77888419&loc=SL77918627-209977 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_OperatingLeaseRightOfUseAsset
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- 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
Name: | us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentUsefulLife
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The charge against earnings resulting from the aggregate write down of tangible assets from their carrying value to their fair value. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 360 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109226691&loc=d3e2921-110230 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 205 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109222650&loc=d3e1361-107760 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_TangibleAssetImpairmentCharges
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=arco_CompanyOperatedFranchiseMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=arco_FranchiseeMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=arco_InternalUsedSoftwareMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_RangeAxis=srt_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=us-gaap_EquipmentMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_RangeAxis=srt_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_PropertyPlantAndEquipmentByTypeAxis=us-gaap_BuildingMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_AdjustmentsForNewAccountingPronouncementsAxis=us-gaap_AccountingStandardsUpdate201602Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

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