Franchise arrangements - Schedule of Future Minimum Rent Payments Due to the Company Under Existing Franchised Agreements (Details) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2024 USD ($)
Franchise Arrangements [Line Items]
2025	$ 62,524
2026	55,600
2027	50,524
2028	44,838
2029	39,033
Thereafter	209,319
Total	461,838
Owned sites
Franchise Arrangements [Line Items]
2025	5,768
2026	4,754
2027	4,624
2028	3,889
2029	3,725
Thereafter	30,094
Total	52,854
Leased sites
Franchise Arrangements [Line Items]
2025	56,756
2026	50,846
2027	45,900
2028	40,949
2029	35,308
Thereafter	179,225
Total	$ 408,984

Franchise Arrangements [Line Items]

No definition available.

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

- Definition

Amount of lease payments to be received by lessor for operating lease.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 842
-SubTopic 30
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 12
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147479773/842-30-50-12

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of lease payment to be received by lessor for operating lease in fifth fiscal year following current fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported from current statement of financial position date (rolling approach).

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of lease payment to be received by lessor for operating lease in fourth fiscal year following current fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported from current statement of financial position date (rolling approach).

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of lease payment to be received by lessor for operating lease in next fiscal year following current fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported from current statement of financial position date (rolling approach).

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of lease payment to be received by lessor for operating lease after fifth fiscal year following current fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported from current statement of financial position date (rolling approach).

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of lease payment to be received by lessor for operating lease in third fiscal year following current fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported from current statement of financial position date (rolling approach).

+ References

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of lease payment to be received by lessor for operating lease in second fiscal year following current fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported from current statement of financial position date (rolling approach).

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LessorOperatingLeasePaymentsToBeReceivedTwoYears
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: