Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 14,961	$ 4,513	$ 38,165	$ 7,699
Other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustment	772	(853)	995	(1,256)
Comprehensive income	15,733	3,660	39,160	6,443
Comprehensive income applicable to noncontrolling interests	1,388	2,575	4,317	3,324
Comprehensive income applicable to Piper Jaffray Companies	$ 14,345	$ 1,085	$ 34,843	$ 3,119

Amount after tax of increase (decrease) in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from net income and other comprehensive income, attributable to parent entity. Excludes changes in equity resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners.

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51831270

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Amount after tax of increase (decrease) in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from net income (loss) and other comprehensive income (loss), attributable to noncontrolling interests. Excludes changes in equity resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners.

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Amount after tax and reclassification adjustments of gain (loss) on foreign currency translation adjustments, foreign currency transactions designated and effective as economic hedges of a net investment in a foreign entity and intra-entity foreign currency transactions that are of a long-term-investment nature.

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