Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Revenues
Revenue from receivable portfolios	$ 1,204,437,000	$ 1,202,361,000	$ 1,287,730,000
Changes in recoveries	(82,530,000)	93,145,000	199,136,000
Total debt purchasing revenue	1,121,907,000	1,295,506,000	1,486,866,000
Servicing revenue	83,136,000	94,922,000	120,778,000
Other revenues	17,637,000	7,919,000	6,855,000
Total revenues	1,222,680,000	1,398,347,000	1,614,499,000
Operating expenses
Salaries and employee benefits	391,532,000	375,135,000	385,178,000
Cost of legal collections	224,252,000	217,944,000	254,280,000
General and administrative expenses	144,862,000	145,798,000	137,695,000
Other operating expenses	111,179,000	111,234,000	106,938,000
Collection agency commissions	35,657,000	35,568,000	47,057,000
Depreciation and amortization	41,737,000	46,419,000	50,079,000
Goodwill impairment	238,200,000	0	0
Impairment of intangible assets	18,726,000	4,075,000	0
Total operating expenses	1,206,145,000	936,173,000	981,227,000
Income from operations	16,535,000	462,174,000	633,272,000
Other expense
Interest expense	(201,877,000)	(153,308,000)	(169,647,000)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	0	(9,300,000)
Other income (expense)	5,078,000	2,123,000	(17,784,000)
Total other expense	(196,799,000)	(151,185,000)	(196,731,000)
(Loss) income before income taxes	(180,264,000)	310,989,000	436,541,000
Provision for income taxes	(26,228,000)	(116,425,000)	(85,340,000)
Net (loss) income	(206,492,000)	194,564,000	351,201,000
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	(419,000)
Net (loss) income attributable to Encore Capital Group, Inc. stockholders	$ (206,492,000)	$ 194,564,000	$ 350,782,000
(Loss) income per share attributable to Encore Capital Group, Inc.:
Basic (USD per share)	$ (8.72)	$ 8.06	$ 11.64
Diluted (USD per share)	$ (8.72)	$ 7.46	$ 11.26
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic (shares)	23,670	24,142	30,129
Diluted (shares)	23,670	26,092	31,153