XML 101 R61.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.22.1

Summary of significant accounting policies - Narrative (Details) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($) restaurant | Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) | Nov. 30, 2021 USD ($) restaurant
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Value added tax and other tax receivable | $ 13,141 | $ 10,685 |  |
Accounts payable for outsourcing | 20,125 | 13,354 |  |
Sale of properties, equipment and restaurant businesses | 1,428 | 201 | $ 6,415 |
Number of restaurants | restaurant |  |  |  | 20
Equity method investments | 13,105 | 1,640 |  | $ 11,000
Shareholders ownership percentage |  |  |  | 49.00%
Equity method investment, gain (loss) on contribution of business | 8,501 | 0 | 0 |
Operadora de Franquicias Saile S.A.P.I. de C.V. |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Equity method investment, gain (loss) on contribution of business | 531 |  |  |
Company-operated Restaurants |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Advertising costs | 104,010 | 60,855 | 115,568 |
Franchised Operations |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Advertising costs | $ 32,809 | $ 26,486 | $ 43,039 |
Investors |  |  |  |
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Number of restaurants | restaurant | 21 |  |  |
Shareholders ownership percentage | 51.00% |  |  |
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 | 10 years |  |  |

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 Equity Method Investment, Gain (Loss) On Contribution Of Business + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | arco_EquityMethodInvestmentGainLossOnContributionOfBusiness
Namespace Prefix: | arco_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

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 The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114001798&loc=d3e33918-111571 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition This item represents the carrying amount on the entity's balance sheet of its investment in common stock of an equity method investee. This is not an indicator of the fair value of the investment, rather it is the initial cost adjusted for the entity's share of earnings and losses of the investee, adjusted for any distributions (dividends) and other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses recognized. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 323 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109237563&loc=d3e33749-111570 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 280 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 25 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=123359005&loc=d3e8813-108599 Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.12) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

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=123570139&loc=d3e3602-108585 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GainLossOnDispositionOfAssets1
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the number of restaurants. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_NumberOfRestaurants
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
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
- Details
Name: | srt_CounterpartyNameAxis=arco_OperadoraDeFranquiciasSaileSAPIDeCVMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

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: | dei_LegalEntityAxis=arco_InvestorsMember
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: |