Earnings Per Share - Table (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2022	Mar. 31, 2021
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income attributable to Encore Capital Group, Inc. stockholders	$ 175,749	$ 94,630
Total weighted-average basic shares outstanding (shares)	24,722	31,469
Dilutive effect of stock-based awards (shares)	540	363
Incremental Common Shares Attributable to Dilutive Effect of Conversion of Debt Securities (in shares)	2,220	0
Total weighted-average dilutive shares outstanding (shares)	27,482	31,832
Basic earnings per share (USD per share)	$ 7.11	$ 3.01
Diluted earnings per share (USD per share)	$ 6.40	$ 2.97