Consolidated Statements Of Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Revenues:
Total revenues	$ 874,255	$ 720,815	$ 599,030
Cost of revenues	147,100	122,958	105,989
Gross profit	727,155	597,857	493,041
Operating expenses:
Sales and marketing	206,871	159,009	141,967
Research, development and engineering	38,046	34,329	30,680
General and administrative	239,672	205,137	134,188
Total operating expenses	484,589	398,475	306,835
Income from operations	242,566	199,382	186,206
Interest expense, net	41,370	42,458	31,204
Other expense (income), net	(10,243)	5	(165)
Income before income taxes	211,439	156,919	155,167
Income tax expense	59,000	23,283	29,840
Net income	152,439	133,636	125,327
Less extinguishment of Series A preferred stock	0	0	(991)
Net income attributable to j2 Global, Inc. common shareholders	$ 152,439	$ 133,636	$ 124,336
Net income per common share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 3.15	$ 2.76	$ 2.60
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 3.13	$ 2.73	$ 2.58
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	47,668,357	47,627,853	46,778,015
Diluted (in shares)	47,963,226	48,087,760	47,106,538
Cash dividends paid per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.36	$ 1.22	$ 1.10
Share-based compensation expense	$ 13,650	$ 11,793	$ 8,908
Cost of revenues
Share-based compensation expense	436	373	345
Sales and marketing
Share-based compensation expense	1,782	2,435	1,944
Research, development and engineering
Share-based compensation expense	904	863	721
General and administrative
Share-based compensation expense	$ 10,528	$ 8,122	$ 5,898