<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<FilingSummary xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
  <Version>2.4.0.8</Version>
  <ProcessingTime />
  <ReportFormat>Html</ReportFormat>
  <ContextCount>159</ContextCount>
  <ElementCount>254</ElementCount>
  <EntityCount>1</EntityCount>
  <FootnotesReported>false</FootnotesReported>
  <SegmentCount>52</SegmentCount>
  <ScenarioCount>0</ScenarioCount>
  <TuplesReported>false</TuplesReported>
  <UnitCount>5</UnitCount>
  <MyReports>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R1.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>00090 - Document - Document and Entity Information</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.shutterstock.com/role/DocumentDocumentAndEntityInformation</Role>
      <ShortName>Document and Entity Information</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>true</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R2.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>00100 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.shutterstock.com/role/StatementConsolidatedBalanceSheets</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Balance Sheets</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R3.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>00105 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.shutterstock.com/role/StatementConsolidatedBalanceSheetsParenthetical</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R4.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>00200 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Operations</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.shutterstock.com/role/StatementConsolidatedStatementsOfOperations</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements of Operations</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R5.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>00300 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss)/Income</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.shutterstock.com/role/StatementConsolidatedStatementsOfComprehensiveLossIncome</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss)/Income</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R6.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>00400 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.shutterstock.com/role/StatementConsolidatedStatementsOfCashFlows</Role>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R7.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>10101 - Disclosure - Summary of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.shutterstock.com/role/DisclosureSummaryOfOperationsAndSignificantAccountingPolicies</Role>
      <ShortName>Summary of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R8.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>10201 - Disclosure - Short-Term Investments and Fair Value Measurements</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.shutterstock.com/role/DisclosureShortTermInvestmentsAndFairValueMeasurements</Role>
      <ShortName>Short-Term Investments and Fair Value Measurements</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R9.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>10301 - Disclosure - Information About Revenue By Geographic Areas</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.shutterstock.com/role/DisclosureInformationAboutRevenueByGeographicAreas</Role>
      <ShortName>Information About Revenue By Geographic Areas</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R10.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>10401 - Disclosure - Goodwill and Intangible Assets</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.shutterstock.com/role/DisclosureGoodwillAndIntangibleAssets</Role>
      <ShortName>Goodwill and Intangible Assets</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R11.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>10501 - Disclosure - Property and Equipment</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.shutterstock.com/role/DisclosurePropertyAndEquipment</Role>
      <ShortName>Property and Equipment</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R12.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>10601 - Disclosure - Accrued Expenses</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.shutterstock.com/role/DisclosureAccruedExpenses</Role>
      <ShortName>Accrued Expenses</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R13.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>10701 - Disclosure - Income Taxes</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.shutterstock.com/role/DisclosureIncomeTaxes</Role>
      <ShortName>Income Taxes</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R14.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>10801 - Disclosure - Term Loan Facility</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.shutterstock.com/role/DisclosureTermLoanFacility</Role>
      <ShortName>Term Loan Facility</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R15.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>10901 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingencies</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.shutterstock.com/role/DisclosureCommitmentsAndContingencies</Role>
      <ShortName>Commitments and Contingencies</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R16.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>11001 - Disclosure - Employee Benefit Plans</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.shutterstock.com/role/DisclosureEmployeeBenefitPlans</Role>
      <ShortName>Employee Benefit Plans</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R17.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>11101 - Disclosure - Equity-Based Compensation</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.shutterstock.com/role/DisclosureEquityBasedCompensation</Role>
      <ShortName>Equity-Based Compensation</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R18.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>20102 - Disclosure - Summary of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.shutterstock.com/role/DisclosureSummaryOfOperationsAndSignificantAccountingPoliciesPolicies</Role>
      <ShortName>Summary of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R19.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>30103 - Disclosure - Summary of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.shutterstock.com/role/DisclosureSummaryOfOperationsAndSignificantAccountingPoliciesTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Summary of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R20.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>30203 - Disclosure - Short-Term Investments and Fair Value Measurements (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.shutterstock.com/role/DisclosureShortTermInvestmentsAndFairValueMeasurementsTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Short-Term Investments and Fair Value Measurements (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R21.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>30303 - Disclosure - Information About Revenue By Geographic Areas (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.shutterstock.com/role/DisclosureInformationAboutRevenueByGeographicAreasTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Information About Revenue By Geographic Areas (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R22.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>30403 - Disclosure - Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.shutterstock.com/role/DisclosureGoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R23.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>30503 - Disclosure - Property and Equipment (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.shutterstock.com/role/DisclosurePropertyAndEquipmentTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Property and Equipment (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R24.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>30603 - Disclosure - Accrued Expenses (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.shutterstock.com/role/DisclosureAccruedExpensesTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Accrued Expenses (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R25.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>31103 - Disclosure - Equity-Based Compensation (Tables)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.shutterstock.com/role/DisclosureEquityBasedCompensationTables</Role>
      <ShortName>Equity-Based Compensation (Tables)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R26.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40101 - Disclosure - Summary of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.shutterstock.com/role/DisclosureSummaryOfOperationsAndSignificantAccountingPoliciesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Summary of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R27.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40102 - Disclosure - Summary of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies (Details 2)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.shutterstock.com/role/DisclosureSummaryOfOperationsAndSignificantAccountingPoliciesDetails2</Role>
      <ShortName>Summary of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies (Details 2)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R28.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40103 - Disclosure - Summary of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies (Details 3)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.shutterstock.com/role/DisclosureSummaryOfOperationsAndSignificantAccountingPoliciesDetails3</Role>
      <ShortName>Summary of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies (Details 3)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R29.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40104 - Disclosure - Summary of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies (Details 4)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.shutterstock.com/role/DisclosureSummaryOfOperationsAndSignificantAccountingPoliciesDetails4</Role>
      <ShortName>Summary of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies (Details 4)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R30.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40105 - Disclosure - Summary of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies (Details 5)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.shutterstock.com/role/DisclosureSummaryOfOperationsAndSignificantAccountingPoliciesDetails5</Role>
      <ShortName>Summary of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies (Details 5)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R31.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40106 - Disclosure - Summary of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies (Details 6)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.shutterstock.com/role/DisclosureSummaryOfOperationsAndSignificantAccountingPoliciesDetails6</Role>
      <ShortName>Summary of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies (Details 6)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R32.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40107 - Disclosure - Summary of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies (Details 7)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.shutterstock.com/role/DisclosureSummaryOfOperationsAndSignificantAccountingPoliciesDetails7</Role>
      <ShortName>Summary of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies (Details 7)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R33.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40108 - Disclosure - Summary of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies (Details 8)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.shutterstock.com/role/DisclosureSummaryOfOperationsAndSignificantAccountingPoliciesDetails8</Role>
      <ShortName>Summary of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies (Details 8)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R34.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40201 - Disclosure - Short-Term Investments and Fair Value Measurements (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.shutterstock.com/role/DisclosureShortTermInvestmentsAndFairValueMeasurementsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Short-Term Investments and Fair Value Measurements (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R35.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40202 - Disclosure - Short-Term Investments and Fair Value Measurements (Details 2)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.shutterstock.com/role/DisclosureShortTermInvestmentsAndFairValueMeasurementsDetails2</Role>
      <ShortName>Short-Term Investments and Fair Value Measurements (Details 2)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R36.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40301 - Disclosure - Information About Revenue By Geographic Areas (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.shutterstock.com/role/DisclosureInformationAboutRevenueByGeographicAreasDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Information About Revenue By Geographic Areas (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R37.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40401 - Disclosure - Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.shutterstock.com/role/DisclosureGoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R38.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40402 - Disclosure - Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Details 2)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.shutterstock.com/role/DisclosureGoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsDetails2</Role>
      <ShortName>Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Details 2)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R39.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40501 - Disclosure - Property and Equipment (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.shutterstock.com/role/DisclosurePropertyAndEquipmentDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Property and Equipment (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R40.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40601 - Disclosure - Accrued Expenses (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.shutterstock.com/role/DisclosureAccruedExpensesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Accrued Expenses (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R41.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40701 - Disclosure - Income Taxes (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.shutterstock.com/role/DisclosureIncomeTaxesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Income Taxes (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R42.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40801 - Disclosure - Term Loan Facility (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.shutterstock.com/role/DisclosureTermLoanFacilityDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Term Loan Facility (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R43.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40901 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingencies (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.shutterstock.com/role/DisclosureCommitmentsAndContingenciesDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Commitments and Contingencies (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R44.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>40902 - Disclosure - Commitments and Contingencies (Details 2)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.shutterstock.com/role/DisclosureCommitmentsAndContingenciesDetails2</Role>
      <ShortName>Commitments and Contingencies (Details 2)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R45.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>41001 - Disclosure - Employee Benefit Plans (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.shutterstock.com/role/DisclosureEmployeeBenefitPlansDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Employee Benefit Plans (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R46.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>41101 - Disclosure - Equity-Based Compensation (Details)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.shutterstock.com/role/DisclosureEquityBasedCompensationDetails</Role>
      <ShortName>Equity-Based Compensation (Details)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R47.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>41102 - Disclosure - Equity-Based Compensation (Details 2)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.shutterstock.com/role/DisclosureEquityBasedCompensationDetails2</Role>
      <ShortName>Equity-Based Compensation (Details 2)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R48.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>41103 - Disclosure - Equity-Based Compensation (Details 3)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://www.shutterstock.com/role/DisclosureEquityBasedCompensationDetails3</Role>
      <ShortName>Equity-Based Compensation (Details 3)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <HasEmbeddedReports>false</HasEmbeddedReports>
      <LongName>All Reports</LongName>
      <ReportType>Book</ReportType>
      <ShortName>All Reports</ShortName>
    </Report>
  </MyReports>
  <Logs>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 00100 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets</Log>
    <Log type="Info">	Process Flow-Through: Removing column 'Sep. 30, 2013'</Log>
    <Log type="Info">	Process Flow-Through: Removing column 'Dec. 31, 2012'</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 00105 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical)</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 00200 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Operations</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 00300 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss)/Income</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 00400 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows</Log>
  </Logs>
  <InputFiles>
    <File>sstk-20140930.xml</File>
    <File>sstk-20140930.xsd</File>
    <File>sstk-20140930_cal.xml</File>
    <File>sstk-20140930_def.xml</File>
    <File>sstk-20140930_lab.xml</File>
    <File>sstk-20140930_pre.xml</File>
  </InputFiles>
  <SupplementalFiles />
  <BaseTaxonomies />
  <HasPresentationLinkbase>true</HasPresentationLinkbase>
  <HasCalculationLinkbase>true</HasCalculationLinkbase>
</FilingSummary>
