Note 19 - Condensed Financial Information for Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc. (Parent Company Only) - Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (Parent Company Only) (Details) - Parent Company [Member] - USD ($)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Net cash (used in) / provided by operating activities	$ (5,013,295)	$ (4,715,072)	$ (18,496,422)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash distributed to wholly-owned subsidiaries	(2,797,401)	(36,853,951)	(4,762,134)
Net cash used in investing activities	(2,797,401)	(36,853,951)	(4,762,134)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from common stock placement, net of issuance costs		85,700,535
Deferred financing costs			(500,000)
Cash used to settle net share equity awards		(2,938)	(1,419,229)
Net cash provided by financing activities		81,791,347	18,455,771
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(7,810,696)	40,222,324	(4,802,785)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	34,717,943	22,104,462	26,907,247
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	26,907,247	62,326,786	22,104,462
Supplemental cash flow information:
Cash paid during the period for interest	1,586,303	2,529,674	9,911,793
Term Loan [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayment of Term Loan		(3,906,250)	(19,625,000)
Revolver Loan [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from Revolver Loan facility			$ 40,000,000