Note 19 - Condensed Financial Information for Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc. (Parent Company Only) - Consolidated Statement of Operations (Parent Company Only) (Details) - USD ($)		3 Months Ended									12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Total operating expenses		$ 177,607,218	$ 47,512,409	$ 42,882,423	$ 57,742,766	$ 102,409,040	$ 46,135,325	$ 47,011,056	$ 43,839,019
Operating loss		(135,771,277)	(11,724,228)	(17,291,989)	(36,464,478)	(76,668,184)	(17,007,843)	(24,353,684)	(17,507,853)
Net loss		$ (142,389,148)	$ (19,359,044)	$ (22,495,573)	$ (39,278,670)	$ (79,744,981)	$ (20,376,620)	$ (27,508,300)	$ (20,667,064)
Per share amounts:
Basic Loss Per Share (in dollars per share)		$ (2.96)	$ (0.65)	$ (9.98)	$ (20.77)	$ (42.37)	$ (10.83)	$ (14.62)	$ (11.01)
Diluted Loss Per Share (in dollars per share)		$ (2.96)	$ (0.65)	$ (9.98)	$ (20.77)	$ (42.37)	$ (10.83)	$ (14.62)	$ (11.01)
Parent Company [Member]
General and administrative expenses										$ 313,877	$ 2,101,094	$ 2,554,795
Total operating expenses										313,877	2,101,094	2,554,795
Operating loss										(313,877)	(2,101,094)	(2,554,795)
Interest expense										2,359,326	2,817,646	11,927,422
Interest income										(2,238)	(215,433)	(6,222)
Other expense											125,255
Reorganization items, net										45,542
Total other expense (income), net										2,402,630	2,727,468	11,921,200
Equity in net loss of subsidiaries**	[1]									(8,832,221)	(218,693,873)	(133,820,970)
Net loss										$ (11,548,728)	$ (223,522,435)	$ (148,296,965)
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic* (in shares)	[2]									1,875,227	20,565,652	1,880,116
Diluted* (in shares)	[2]									1,875,227	20,565,652	1,880,116
Per share amounts:
Basic Loss Per Share (in dollars per share)										$ (6.16)	$ (10.87)	$ (78.88)
Diluted Loss Per Share (in dollars per share)										$ (6.16)	$ (10.87)	$ (78.88)

[1] Eliminated in the consolidated financial statements.

[2] Adjusted to give effect for the 1 for 20 reverse stock split for the successor that became effective as of the opening day of trading on August 5, 2016