The Company and Basis of Presentation	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
The Company and Basis of Presentation	Description of the business: Blucora, Inc. (the “Company” or “Blucora”) operates two primary businesses: a Wealth Management business and an online Tax Preparation business. The Wealth Management business consists of the operations of HD Vest, Inc. (“HD Vest”), which the Company acquired on December 31, 2015, and, accordingly, has no operating activities recorded in Blucora's 2015 results of operations. HD Vest will be included in Blucora's results of operations beginning on January 1, 2016. HD Vest provides wealth management solutions for financial advisors. The Tax Preparation business consists of the operations of TaxAct, Inc. (“TaxAct”) and provides digital tax preparation solutions for consumers, small business owners, and tax professionals through its website www.TaxAct.com. The Company also operates an internet Search and Content business and an E-Commerce business. The Search and Content business operates through the InfoSpace LLC subsidiary (“InfoSpace”) and provides search services to users of its owned and operated and distribution partners’ web properties, as well as online content through HowStuffWorks (“HSW”). The E-Commerce business consists of the operations of Monoprice, Inc. (“Monoprice”) and sells self-branded electronics and accessories to both consumers and businesses primarily through its website www.monoprice.com. On October 14, 2015, the Company announced its plans to focus on the technology-enabled financial solutions market, referred to as the “Strategic Transformation.” The Strategic Transformation consists of the acquisition of HD Vest, which closed on December 31, 2015 (see "Note 3: Business Combinations"), and the intention to divest the Search and Content and E-Commerce businesses in the first half of 2016 (see "Note 4: Discontinued Operations"). Accordingly, the financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, and the notes to financial statements reflect the Search and Content and E-Commerce businesses as discontinued operations for all periods presented. Except for disclosures related to equity and unless otherwise specified, disclosures in these consolidated financial statements reflect continuing operations. Segments: The Company has two reportable segments: the Wealth Management segment, which is the HD Vest business, and the Tax Preparation segment, which is the TaxAct business. The former Search and Content and E-Commerce segments are included in discontinued operations. The former Search and Content segment is the InfoSpace business, which includes HSW, and the former E-Commerce segment is the Monoprice business. Unless the context indicates otherwise, the Company uses the term “Wealth Management” to represent services sold through the HD Vest business, the term “Tax Preparation” to represent services and software sold through the TaxAct business, the term “Search and Content” to represent search and content services, and the term “E-Commerce” to represent products sold through the Monoprice business (see "Note 12: Segment Information"). Principles of consolidation: The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. Reclassification: The Company reclassified certain amounts related to discontinued operations and the implementation of new accounting guidance on debt issuance costs and deferred taxes. See "Note 4: Discontinued Operations" and the "Recent accounting pronouncements" section of "Note 2: Summary of Significant Accounting Policies," respectively, for additional information. Use of estimates: The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses, and disclosure of contingencies. Estimates include those used for impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets, useful lives of other intangible assets, acquisition accounting, valuation of investments, valuation of the Warrant and interest rate swap derivatives, revenue recognition, the estimated allowance for sales returns and doubtful accounts, internally developed software, accrued contingencies, stock option valuation, and valuation allowance for deferred tax assets. Actual amounts may differ from estimates. Seasonality: Blucora’s Tax Preparation segment is highly seasonal, with a significant portion of its annual revenue earned in the first four months of the Company’s fiscal year. During the third and fourth quarters, the Tax Preparation segment typically reports losses because revenue from the segment is minimal while core operating expenses continue at relatively consistent levels.

Description of the business: Blucora, Inc. (the “Company” or “Blucora”) operates two primary businesses: a Wealth Management business and an online Tax Preparation business. The Wealth Management business consists of the operations of HD Vest, Inc. (“HD Vest”), which the Company acquired on December 31, 2015, and, accordingly, has no operating activities recorded in Blucora's 2015 results of operations. HD Vest will be included in Blucora's results of operations beginning on January 1, 2016. HD Vest provides wealth management solutions for financial advisors. The Tax Preparation business consists of the operations of TaxAct, Inc. (“TaxAct”) and provides digital tax preparation solutions for consumers, small business owners, and tax professionals through its website www.TaxAct.com.

The Company also operates an internet Search and Content business and an E-Commerce business. The Search and Content business operates through the InfoSpace LLC subsidiary (“InfoSpace”) and provides search services to users of its owned and operated and distribution partners’ web properties, as well as online content through HowStuffWorks (“HSW”). The E-Commerce business consists of the operations of Monoprice, Inc. (“Monoprice”) and sells self-branded electronics and accessories to both consumers and businesses primarily through its website www.monoprice.com.

On October 14, 2015, the Company announced its plans to focus on the technology-enabled financial solutions market, referred to as the “Strategic Transformation.” The Strategic Transformation consists of the acquisition of HD Vest, which closed on December 31, 2015 (see "Note 3: Business Combinations"), and the intention to divest the Search and Content and E-Commerce businesses in the first half of 2016 (see "Note 4: Discontinued Operations"). Accordingly, the financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, and the notes to financial statements reflect the Search and Content and E-Commerce businesses as discontinued operations for all periods presented. Except for disclosures related to equity and unless otherwise specified, disclosures in these consolidated financial statements reflect continuing operations.

Segments: The Company has two reportable segments: the Wealth Management segment, which is the HD Vest business, and the Tax Preparation segment, which is the TaxAct business. The former Search and Content and E-Commerce segments are included in discontinued operations. The former Search and Content segment is the InfoSpace business, which includes HSW, and the former E-Commerce segment is the Monoprice business. Unless the context indicates otherwise, the Company uses the term “Wealth Management” to represent services sold through the HD Vest business, the term “Tax Preparation” to represent services and software sold through the TaxAct business, the term “Search and Content” to represent search and content services, and the term “E-Commerce” to represent products sold through the Monoprice business (see "Note 12: Segment Information").

Principles of consolidation: The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

Reclassification: The Company reclassified certain amounts related to discontinued operations and the implementation of new accounting guidance on debt issuance costs and deferred taxes. See "Note 4: Discontinued Operations" and the "Recent accounting pronouncements" section of "Note 2: Summary of Significant Accounting Policies," respectively, for additional information.

Use of estimates: The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses, and disclosure of contingencies. Estimates include those used for impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets, useful lives of other intangible assets, acquisition accounting, valuation of investments, valuation of the Warrant and interest rate swap derivatives, revenue recognition, the estimated allowance for sales returns and doubtful accounts, internally developed software, accrued contingencies, stock option valuation, and valuation allowance for deferred tax assets. Actual amounts may differ from estimates.

Seasonality: Blucora’s Tax Preparation segment is highly seasonal, with a significant portion of its annual revenue earned in the first four months of the Company’s fiscal year. During the third and fourth quarters, the Tax Preparation segment typically reports losses because revenue from the segment is minimal while core operating expenses continue at relatively consistent levels.