Benefit related to reversal of accrued interest pursuant to the resolution of uncertain tax positions

No definition available.

Name:	mco_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsInterestReductionResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitationsAndSettlement
Namespace Prefix:	mco_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of decrease in unrecognized tax benefits resulting from settlements and lapses of applicable statutes of limitations

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mco_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitationsAndSettlement
Namespace Prefix:	mco_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage of current income tax expense (benefit) and deferred income tax expense (benefit) pertaining to continuing operations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 12
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121826272&loc=d3e32687-109319

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of difference between reported income tax expense (benefit) and expected income tax expense (benefit) computed by applying domestic federal statutory income tax rate to pretax income (loss) from continuing operation, attributable to expense for award under share-based payment arrangement. Excludes expense determined to be nondeductible upon grant or after for award under share-based payment arrangement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 12
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121826272&loc=d3e32687-109319

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 740
-Section 35
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120384911&loc=d3e23163-113944

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationShareBasedCompensationExcessTaxBenefitAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeTaxContingencyLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of increase (decrease) in unrecognized tax benefits attributable to uncertain tax positions taken in tax returns.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 15A
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121826272&loc=SL6600010-109319

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsPeriodIncreaseDecrease
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis=mco_NetOfFederalTaxMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021	Mar. 31, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Effective tax rate (percent)	23.90%		23.60%	19.00%	19.00%
Excess tax benefits from stock compensation				$ 26
Reduction resulting from lapse of applicable statute of limitations and settlement				61
Overall increase (decrease) in unrecognized tax benefits (UTPs)	$ 4			(76)
Interest accrued on UTPs		$ 40		40
Net of Federal Tax
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Overall increase (decrease) in unrecognized tax benefits (UTPs)	$ 4			$ (67)