Business Combinations - Summary of Operating Performance (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 253,741	$ 144,586
Total operating expenses	(185,472)	(105,872)
Income from operations	68,269	38,714
Interest expense-non-PEC	(37,962)	(6,854)
PEC interest (expense) income	4,824	3,602
(Loss) income before income taxes	30,572	32,019
Provision for income taxes	11,742	12,571
Net income	18,830	19,448
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(4,350)	0
Net income attributable to Encore Capital Group, Inc. stockholders	23,180	19,448
Janus Holdings [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Total revenues	62,520
Total operating expenses	(39,576)
Income from operations	22,944
Other income	75
(Loss) income before income taxes	(9,799)
Provision for income taxes	2,146
Net income	(7,653)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	1,099
Net income attributable to Encore Capital Group, Inc. stockholders	(6,554)
Janus Holdings [Member] | Non Preferred Equity Certificate [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Interest expense-non-PEC	(21,776)
Janus Holdings [Member] | Preferred Equity Certificate [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
PEC interest (expense) income	(11,042)
Encore Europe [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Total revenues	0
Total operating expenses	0
Income from operations	0
Other income	11
(Loss) income before income taxes	5,378
Provision for income taxes	0
Net income	5,378
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	3,271
Net income attributable to Encore Capital Group, Inc. stockholders	8,649
Encore Europe [Member] | Non Preferred Equity Certificate [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Interest expense-non-PEC	0
Encore Europe [Member] | Preferred Equity Certificate [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
PEC interest (expense) income	5,367
Encore Europe Consolidated [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Total revenues	62,520
Total operating expenses	(39,576)
Income from operations	22,944
Other income	86
(Loss) income before income taxes	(4,421)
Provision for income taxes	2,146
Net income	(2,275)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	4,370
Net income attributable to Encore Capital Group, Inc. stockholders	2,095
Encore Europe Consolidated [Member] | Non Preferred Equity Certificate [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Interest expense-non-PEC	(21,776)
Encore Europe Consolidated [Member] | Preferred Equity Certificate [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
PEC interest (expense) income	$ (5,675)