Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Revenue	$ 698,266		$ 658,288		$ 631,400
Operating expense (1):
Cost of revenue	271,437	[1]	246,783	[1]	235,289	[1]
Sales and marketing	103,614	[1]	108,884	[1]	106,699	[1]
General and administrative	106,868	[1]	108,857	[1]	108,084	[1]
Depreciation and amortization	45,693		43,096		42,913
Total operating expense	527,612	[1]	507,620	[1]	492,985	[1]
Operating income	170,654		150,668		138,415
Non-operating income (expense):
Interest income, net	2,712		5,153		2,361
Gain (loss) on sale of investments reclassified from other comprehensive income	4,207		538		260
Equity Method Investments Holding Gain	3,635		0		0
Other income (expense), net	(3,198)		(2,734)		(912)
Non-operating income (expense), net	7,356		2,957		1,709
Income before income taxes and equity in net income of unconsolidated entities	178,010		153,625		140,124
Income tax expense	56,031		52,878		43,658
Equity in net income of unconsolidated entities	1,428		2,027		1,848
Consolidated Net Income from Continuing Operations	123,407		102,774		98,314
Gain on Sale of Discontinued Operation, Net of Tax	0		5,188		0
Consolidated net income	123,407		107,962		98,314
Net (income) loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest	122		117		43
Net income attributable to Morningstar, Inc.	123,529		108,079		98,357
Net Income from Continuing Operations, net of tax	123,529		102,891		98,357
Net Income from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax	$ 0		$ 5,188		$ 0
Net income per share attributable to Morningstar, Inc.:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 2.68		$ 2.23		$ 1.96
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 2.66		$ 2.20		$ 1.92
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Diluted Share	$ 0.00		$ 0.10		$ 0.00
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Diluted Share	$ 2.66		$ 2.10		$ 1.92
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Basic Share	$ 0.00		$ 0.11		$ 0.00
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Basic Share	$ 2.68		$ 2.12		$ 1.96
Dividends per common share:
Dividends declared per common share	$ 0.55		$ 0.43		$ 0.25
Dividends paid per common share	$ 0.38		$ 0.53		$ 0.20
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	46,158		48,497		50,032
Diluted (in shares)	46,491		49,148		50,988

[1] 2013 2012 2011(1) Includes stock-based compensation expense of: Cost of revenue $6,870 $6,416 $6,236Sales and marketing 1,975 1,937 1,871General and administrative 6,198 10,552 7,196Total stock-based compensation expense $15,043 $18,905 $15,303