Stock Cancelled During Period, Shares, Conversion Of Convertible Securities, Hedge Transaction

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	ecpg_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The price per share of the conversion feature embedded in the debt instrument.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928298&loc=SL6031898-161870

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

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

- Definition

The premium (cost) of a hedge, expensed during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The cash inflow from a financial contract that meets the hedge criteria as either cash flow hedge, fair value hedge or hedge of net investment in foreign operations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 27
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3581-108585

+ Details

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

- Details

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- Details

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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=ecpg_TwoThousandTwentyOneConvertibleSeniorNotesMember
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Data Type:	na
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis=ecpg_HedgingofConvertibleDebtInstrumentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_ConvertibleNotesPayableMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Debt - Convertible Notes Hedge Transactions (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
	Nov. 27, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Proceeds in connection with unwinding hedge transactions		$ 5,600
2017 Convertible Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Conversion price (in dollars per share)		$ 31.56
2020 Convertible Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Cost of the hedge transaction(s)		$ 18,113
Conversion price (in dollars per share)		$ 45.72
2021 Convertible Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Cost of the hedge transaction(s)		$ 19,545
Conversion price (in dollars per share)		$ 59.39
Hedging of Convertible Debt Instrument \| 2020 Convertible Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Conversion price (in dollars per share)		61.55
Hedging of Convertible Debt Instrument \| 2021 Convertible Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Conversion price (in dollars per share)		$ 83.14
Convertible Notes \| 2017 Convertible Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Shares received counterparties to hedge transaction, cancelled (in shares)	621,612