| Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table Text Block] |
| | | Capital | | | Asset | | | Principal | | | Segment | | | | | | | | |
| | | Markets | | | Management | | | Investing | | | Total | | | Unallocated (1) | | | Total | |
| Investment banking and new issue | | $ | 187,608 | | | $ | - | | | $ | - | | | $ | 187,608 | | | $ | - | | | $ | 187,608 | |
| Net trading | | | 47,347 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 47,347 | | | | - | | | | 47,347 | |
| Asset management | | | - | | | | 8,817 | | | | - | | | | 8,817 | | | | - | | | | 8,817 | |
| Principal transactions | | | - | | | | - | | | | 30,344 | | | | 30,344 | | | | - | | | | 30,344 | |
| Other income | | | - | | | | 1,796 | | | | (348 | ) | | | 1,448 | | | | - | | | | 1,448 | |
| Total revenues | | | 234,955 | | | | 10,613 | | | | 29,996 | | | | 275,564 | | | | - | | | | 275,564 | |
| Compensation | | | 134,696 | | | | 7,660 | | | | 524 | | | | 142,880 | | | | 14,425 | | | | 157,305 | |
| Stock based compensation | | | 357 | | | | 98 | | | | 15,671 | | | | 16,126 | | | | 4,087 | | | | 20,213 | |
| Business development | | | 1,950 | | | | 225 | | | | 1 | | | | 2,176 | | | | 1,377 | | | | 3,553 | |
| Occupancy and equipment | | | 2,892 | | | | 238 | | | | - | | | | 3,130 | | | | 1,214 | | | | 4,344 | |
| Subscriptions, clearing, and execution | | | 15,378 | | | | 337 | | | | 30 | | | | 15,745 | | | | 182 | | | | 15,927 | |
| Professional fee and other operating | | | 8,875 | | | | 1,727 | | | | 267 | | | | 10,869 | | | | 3,222 | | | | 14,091 | |
| Depreciation and amortization | | | - | | | | 7 | | | | - | | | | 7 | | | | 717 | | | | 724 | |
| Total operating expenses | | | 164,148 | | | | 10,292 | | | | 16,493 | | | | 190,933 | | | | 25,224 | | | | 216,157 | |
| Operating income / (loss) | | | 70,807 | | | | 321 | | | | 13,503 | | | | 84,631 | | | | (25,224 | ) | | | 59,407 | |
| Interest income (expense) | | | (126 | ) | | | - | | | | - | | | | (126 | ) | | | (5,750 | ) | | | (5,876 | ) |
| Gain on sale of management contracts | | | - | | | | 2,734 | | | | - | | | | 2,734 | | | | - | | | | 2,734 | |
| Income from equity method affiliates | | | (792 | ) | | | - | | | | (15,971 | ) | | | (16,763 | ) | | | - | | | | (16,763 | ) |
| Income /(loss) before income taxes | | | 69,889 | | | | 3,055 | | | | (2,468 | ) | | | 70,476 | | | | (30,974 | ) | | | 39,502 | |
| Income tax expense (benefit) | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | (632 | ) | | | (632 | ) |
| Net income / (loss) | | | 69,889 | | | | 3,055 | | | | (2,468 | ) | | | 70,476 | | | | (30,342 | ) | | | 40,134 | |
| Less: Net income (loss) attributable to the non-convertible non-controlling interest of the Operating LLC | | | - | | | | 1 | | | | (1,914 | ) | | | (1,913 | ) | | | - | | | | (1,913 | ) |
| Enterprise net income /(loss) | | | 69,889 | | | | 3,054 | | | | (554 | ) | | | 72,389 | | | | (30,342 | ) | | | 42,047 | |
| Less: Net income (loss) attributable to the convertible non-controlling interest of Cohen & Company Inc. | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 27,616 | | | | 27,616 | |
| Net income / (loss) attributable to Cohen & Company Inc. | | $ | 69,889 | | | $ | 3,054 | | | $ | (554 | ) | | $ | 72,389 | | | $ | (57,958 | ) | | $ | 14,431 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Other statement of operations data | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Cash compensation as a percentage of revenue | | | 57.33 | % | | | 72.18 | % | | | 1.75 | % | | | 51.85 | % | | | N/A | | | | 57.08 | % |
| Operating income / (loss) as a percentage of revenue | | | 30.14 | % | | | 3.02 | % | | | 45.02 | % | | | 30.71 | % | | | N/A | | | | 21.56 | % |
| Net income / (loss) as a percentage of revenue | | | 29.75 | % | | | 28.79 | % | | | 8.23 | % | | | 25.58 | % | | | N/A | | | | 14.56 | % |
| Net income / (loss) attributable to Cohen & Company Inc. as a percentage of revenue | | | 29.75 | % | | | 28.78 | % | | | 1.85 | % | | | 26.27 | % | | | N/A | | | | 5.24 | % |
| | | Capital | | | Asset | | | Principal | | | Segment | | | | | | | | |
| | | Markets | | | Management | | | Investing | | | Total | | | Unallocated (1) | | | Total | |
| Investment banking and new issue | | $ | 40,778 | | | $ | - | | | $ | - | | | $ | 40,778 | | | $ | - | | | $ | 40,778 | |
| Net trading | | | 36,409 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 36,409 | | | | - | | | | 36,409 | |
| Asset management | | | - | | | | 9,009 | | | | - | | | | 9,009 | | | | - | | | | 9,009 | |
| Principal transactions | | | - | | | | - | | | | (10,246 | ) | | | (10,246 | ) | | | - | | | | (10,246 | ) |
| Other income | | | 10 | | | | 2,615 | | | | 1,023 | | | | 3,648 | | | | - | | | | 3,648 | |
| Total revenues | | | 77,197 | | | | 11,624 | | | | (9,223 | ) | | | 79,598 | | | | - | | | | 79,598 | |
| Compensation | | | 42,536 | | | | 6,058 | | | | 1,648 | | | | 50,242 | | | | 1,478 | | | | 51,720 | |
| Stock based compensation | | | 575 | | | | 145 | | | | - | | | | 720 | | | | 3,948 | | | | 4,668 | |
| Business development | | | 1,377 | | | | 250 | | | | 14 | | | | 1,641 | | | | 641 | | | | 2,282 | |
| Occupancy and equipment | | | 2,976 | | | | 213 | | | | - | | | | 3,189 | | | | 1,146 | | | | 4,335 | |
| Subscriptions, clearing, and execution | | | 8,893 | | | | 368 | | | | 170 | | | | 9,431 | | | | 208 | | | | 9,639 | |
| Professional fee and other operating | | | 7,591 | | | | 1,772 | | | | 1,216 | | | | 10,579 | | | | 3,842 | | | | 14,421 | |
| Depreciation and amortization | | | - | | | | 6 | | | | - | | | | 6 | | | | 550 | | | | 556 | |
| Total operating expenses | | | 63,948 | | | | 8,812 | | | | 3,048 | | | | 75,808 | | | | 11,813 | | | | 87,621 | |
| Operating income / (loss) | | | 13,249 | | | | 2,812 | | | | (12,271 | ) | | | 3,790 | | | | (11,813 | ) | | | (8,023 | ) |
| Interest income (expense) | | | (76 | ) | | | - | | | | - | | | | (76 | ) | | | (5,745 | ) | | | (5,821 | ) |
| Income from equity method affiliates | | | - | | | | - | | | | 21,704 | | | | 21,704 | | | | - | | | | 21,704 | |
| Income (loss) before income taxes | | | 13,173 | | | | 2,812 | | | | 9,433 | | | | 25,418 | | | | (17,558 | ) | | | 7,860 | |
| Income tax expense / (benefit) | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | (329 | ) | | | (329 | ) |
| Net income / (loss) | | | 13,173 | | | | 2,812 | | | | 9,433 | | | | 25,418 | | | | (17,229 | ) | | | 8,189 | |
| Less: Net income attributable to the non-convertible non-controlling interest of the Operating LLC | | | - | | | | 1 | | | | 8,674 | | | | 8,675 | | | | - | | | | 8,675 | |
| Enterprise net income/ (loss) | | | 13,173 | | | | 2,811 | | | | 759 | | | | 16,743 | | | | (17,229 | ) | | | (486 | ) |
| Less: Net income (loss) attributable to the convertible non-controlling interest of Cohen & Company Inc. | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | (357 | ) | | | (357 | ) |
| Net income / (loss) attributable to Cohen & Company Inc. | | $ | 13,173 | | | $ | 2,811 | | | $ | 759 | | | $ | 16,743 | | | $ | (16,872 | ) | | $ | (129 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Other statement of operations data | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Cash compensation as a percentage of revenue | | | 55.10 | % | | | 52.12 | % | | | 17.87 | % | | | 63.12 | % | | | N/A | | | | 64.98 | % |
| Operating income / (loss) as a percentage of revenue | | | 17.16 | % | | | 24.19 | % | | | 133.05 | % | | | 4.76 | % | | | N/A | | | | (10.08 | )% |
| Net income / (loss) as a percentage of revenue | | | 17.06 | % | | | 24.19 | % | | | 102.28 | % | | | 31.93 | % | | | N/A | | | | 10.29 | % |
| Net income / (loss) attributable to Cohen & Company Inc. as a percentage of revenue | | | 17.06 | % | | | 24.18 | % | | | 8.23 | % | | | 21.03 | % | | | N/A | | | | (0.16 | )% |
| | | Capital | | | Asset | | | Principal | | | Segment | | | | | | | | |
| | | Markets | | | Management | | | Investing | | | Total | | | Unallocated (1) | | | Total | |
| Investment banking and new issue | | $ | 23,952 | | | $ | - | | | $ | - | | | $ | 23,952 | | | $ | - | | | $ | 23,952 | |
| Net trading | | | 30,926 | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 30,926 | | | | - | | | | 30,926 | |
| Asset management | | | - | | | | 7,337 | | | | - | | | | 7,337 | | | | - | | | | 7,337 | |
| Principal transactions | | | - | | | | - | | | | 19,254 | | | | 19,254 | | | | - | | | | 19,254 | |
| Other income | | | 1 | | | | 1,071 | | | | 440 | | | | 1,512 | | | | - | | | | 1,512 | |
| Total revenues | | | 54,879 | | | | 8,408 | | | | 19,694 | | | | 82,981 | | | | - | | | | 82,981 | |
| Compensation | | | 30,641 | | | | 5,777 | | | | 2,335 | | | | 38,753 | | | | 8,948 | | | | 47,701 | |
| Stock based compensation | | | 515 | | | | 106 | | | | - | | | | 621 | | | | 3,770 | | | | 4,391 | |
| Business development | | | 741 | | | | 268 | | | | 23 | | | | 1,032 | | | | 383 | | | | 1,415 | |
| Occupancy and equipment | | | 2,560 | | | | 202 | | | | - | | | | 2,762 | | | | 1,027 | | | | 3,789 | |
| Subscriptions, clearing, and execution | | | 8,125 | | | | 334 | | | | 251 | | | | 8,710 | | | | 255 | | | | 8,965 | |
| Professional fee and other operating | | | 4,320 | | | | 1,408 | | | | 843 | | | | 6,571 | | | | 2,725 | | | | 9,296 | |
| Depreciation and amortization | | | - | | | | 6 | | | | - | | | | 6 | | | | 557 | | | | 563 | |
| Total operating expenses | | | 46,902 | | | | 8,101 | | | | 3,452 | | | | 58,455 | | | | 17,665 | | | | 76,120 | |
| Operating income / (loss) | | | 7,977 | | | | 307 | | | | 16,242 | | | | 24,526 | | | | (17,665 | ) | | | 6,861 | |
| Interest income (expense) | | | (338 | ) | | | - | | | | - | | | | (338 | ) | | | (6,188 | ) | | | (6,526 | ) |
| (Loss) from equity method affiliates | | | - | | | | - | | | | 15,609 | | | | 15,609 | | | | - | | | | 15,609 | |
| Income before income taxes | | | 7,639 | | | | 307 | | | | 31,851 | | | | 39,797 | | | | (23,853 | ) | | | 15,944 | |
| Income tax expense / (benefit) | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 5,545 | | | | 5,545 | |
| Net income /(loss) | | | 7,639 | | | | 307 | | | | 31,851 | | | | 39,797 | | | | (29,398 | ) | | | 10,399 | |
| Less: Net (loss) attributable to the non-convertible non-controlling interest of the Operating LLC | | | - | | | | 17 | | | | 19,573 | | | | 19,590 | | | | - | | | | 19,590 | |
| Enterprise net income /(loss) | | | 7,639 | | | | 290 | | | | 12,278 | | | | 20,207 | | | | (29,398 | ) | | | (9,191 | ) |
| Less: Net income (loss) attributable to the convertible non-controlling interest of Cohen & Company Inc. | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | (4,078 | ) | | | (4,078 | ) |
| Net income (loss) attributable to Cohen & Company Inc. | | $ | 7,639 | | | $ | 290 | | | $ | 12,278 | | | $ | 20,207 | | | $ | (25,320 | ) | | $ | (5,113 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Other statement of operations data | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Cash compensation as a percentage of revenue | | | 55.83 | % | | | 68.71 | % | | | 11.86 | % | | | 46.70 | % | | | N/A | | | | 57.48 | % |
| Operating income / (loss) as a percentage of revenue | | | 14.54 | % | | | 3.65 | % | | | 82.47 | % | | | 29.56 | % | | | N/A | | | | 8.27 | % |
| Net income / (loss) as a percentage of revenue | | | 13.92 | % | | | 3.65 | % | | | 161.73 | % | | | 47.96 | % | | | N/A | | | | 12.53 | % |
| Net income / (loss) attributable to Cohen & Company Inc. as a percentage of revenue | | | 13.92 | % | | | 3.45 | % | | | 62.34 | % | | | 24.35 | % | | | N/A | | | | (6.16 | )% |
|