CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 942,213	$ 997,303	$ 1,051,466
Cost of revenue	699,865	690,045	687,327
Gross profit (loss)	242,348	307,258	364,139
Selling, general and administrative expenses	192,642	214,155	220,868
Litigation settlement loss, net of $4,000 insurance recovery	0	28,000	0
Impairment losses	0	0	71,785
Change in the fair value of Equator Earn Out	0	0	(7,591)
Income (loss) from operations	49,706	65,103	79,077
Other income (expense), net:
Interest expense	(22,253)	(24,412)	(28,208)
Other income (expense), net	7,922	3,630	2,191
Total other income (expense), net	(14,331)	(20,782)	(26,017)
Income before income taxes and non-controlling interests	35,375	44,321	53,060
Income tax benefit (provision)	276,256	(12,935)	(8,260)
Net income	311,631	31,386	44,800
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	(2,740)	(2,693)	(3,202)
Net income attributable to Altisource	$ 308,891	$ 28,693	$ 41,598
Earnings per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 16.99	$ 1.53	$ 2.13
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 16.53	$ 1.46	$ 2.02
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	18,183	18,696	19,504
Diluted (in shares)	18,692	19,612	20,619
Comprehensive income:
Unrealized gain (loss) on securities, net of income tax benefit (provision) of $(921), $720, $0	$ 2,478	$ (1,745)	$ 0
Comprehensive income, net of tax	314,109	29,641	44,800
Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests	(2,740)	(2,693)	(3,202)
Comprehensive income attributable to Altisource	$ 311,369	$ 26,948	$ 41,598