XML 133 R99.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.21.1

Income taxes - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018 | Jan. 01, 2018
Income Taxes [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Change in valuation allowance | $ (2,958) | $ 24,864 | $ 24,307 |
Net deferred tax asset | 50,500 | 64,071 |  |
Non-current deferred tax assets | 55,567 | 68,368 | 58,334 | $ 75,854
Non-current deferred tax liabilities | 5,067 | 4,297 |  |
Temporary differences related to investments in foreign subsidiaries | 187,215 |  |  |
Tax Year 2009 to 2015 |  |  |  |
Income Taxes [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Estimate of possible loss | 169,000 |  |  |
Non-current Assets |  |  |  |
Income Taxes [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Non-current deferred tax assets | 55,567 | 68,368 |  |
Non-current Liabilities |  |  |  |
Income Taxes [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Non-current deferred tax liabilities | 5,067 | 4,297 |  |
Venezuela |  |  |  |
Income Taxes [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Change in valuation allowance | $ 43,249 | $ 983 | $ (304) |

X
- Definition Income Taxes [Line Items] + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | arco_IncomeTaxesLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | arco_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Temporary differences related to investments in foreign subsidiaries + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | arco_TemporaryDifferencesRelatedToInvestmentsInForeignSubsidiaries
Namespace Prefix: | arco_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount, after allocation of valuation allowances and deferred tax liability, of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible differences and carryforwards, with jurisdictional netting. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 6 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120406818&loc=d3e31931-109318 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120406818&loc=d3e31917-109318 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxAssetsNet
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount, after deferred tax asset, of deferred tax liability attributable to taxable differences with jurisdictional netting. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 6 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120406818&loc=d3e31931-109318 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120406818&loc=d3e31917-109318 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilitiesNet
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount, after allocation of valuation allowances and deferred tax liability, of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible differences and carryforwards, without jurisdictional netting. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32537-109319 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Estimated amount of loss resulting from an adverse tax position. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15 -Subparagraph (d)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32718-109319 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_IncomeTaxExaminationEstimateOfPossibleLoss
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of increase (decrease) in the valuation allowance for a specified deferred tax asset. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32537-109319 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceDeferredTaxAssetChangeInAmount
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_TaxPeriodAxis=arco_TaxYear2009To2015Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis=arco_NoncurrentAssetsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis=arco_NoncurrentLiabilitiesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_StatementGeographicalAxis=country_VE
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |