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Regulatory requirements - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Schedule Of Regulatory Assets And Liabilities [Line Items]    
Actual percentage of net capital to aggregate customer-related debit items 11.06%  
Freedom maintain net capital equal to the greater $ 250,000  
Aggregate indebtedness 6.67%  
Cash and securities segregated for regulatory and other purposes 33,000,000 30,086,000
Oppenheimer [Member]
    
Schedule Of Regulatory Assets And Liabilities [Line Items]    
Required percentage of net capital to aggregate customer-related debit items 2.00%  
Net capital 141,700,000  
Excess capital 116,000,000  
Cash and securities segregated for regulatory and other purposes 14,900,000  
Freedom [Member]
    
Schedule Of Regulatory Assets And Liabilities [Line Items]    
Net capital 4,600,000  
Excess capital 4,400,000  
Cash and securities segregated for regulatory and other purposes 17,100,000  
Oppenheimer Europe Ltd [Member]
    
Schedule Of Regulatory Assets And Liabilities [Line Items]    
Net capital 6,100,000  
Excess capital 2,700,000  
Regulatory capital required to be maintained 3,400,000  
Oppenheimer Investments Asia Ltd. [Member]
    
Schedule Of Regulatory Assets And Liabilities [Line Items]    
Net capital 1,300,000  
Excess capital 887,000  
Regulatory capital required to be maintained $ 387,000