Long Term Debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Jun. 10, 2014	Jul. 26, 2012
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount	$ 652,500
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount					$ 5,000
Unamortized Debt Issuance Expense	(7,757)	$ (9,149)
Interest Expense	42,700	43,600	$ 32,500
Long-term Debt	601,746	592,037
Long-term Debt, Current Maturities	0	0
Total long-term debt, less current portion	601,746	592,037
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	$ 792,200	790,500
Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Issuance Date	Jul. 26, 2012
Debt Instrument, Face Amount	$ 250,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	8.00%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date	Aug. 01, 2020
Proceeds from Debt, Net of Issuance Costs	$ 245,000
Debt Instrument, Frequency of Periodic Payment	semi-annually
Debt Instrument, Call Date, Earliest	Aug. 01, 2016
Debt Instrument, Covenant Description	The indenture governing the Senior Notes contains certain restrictive and other covenants applicable to j2 Cloud Services and subsidiaries designated as restricted subsidiaries including, but not limited to, limitations on debt and disqualified or preferred stock, restricted payments, liens, sale and leaseback transactions, dividends and other payment restrictions, asset sales and transactions with affiliates.
Long-term Debt, Gross	$ 247,359	246,750
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	275,400	262,200
Convertible Debt Securities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Expense, Debt, Excluding Amortization	$ 13,081	13,081	6,980
Debt Instrument, Issuance Date	Jun. 10, 2014
Debt Instrument, Face Amount	$ 402,500	402,500
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	3.25%
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date	Jun. 15, 2029
Proceeds from Debt, Net of Issuance Costs	$ 391,400
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount	$ 40,356	48,064		$ 59,000
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Remaining Discount Amortization Period	4 years 5 months 16 days
Unamortized Debt Issuance Expense	$ (7,002)	(8,219)
Debt Instrument, Frequency of Periodic Payment	semiannually
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Carrying Amount of Equity Component	$ 37,700	37,700		$ 37,700
Interest Expense	22,005	21,464	11,243
Long-term Debt	355,142	346,217
Long-term Debt, Gross	362,144	354,436
Long-term Debt, Fair Value	516,800	528,300
Amortization of Debt Discount (Premium)	7,707	7,274	3,712
Amortization of Debt Issuance Costs	1,217	1,109	$ 551
Debt Instrument, Convertible, If-converted Value in Excess of Principal	$ 75,200	$ 76,200