QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands		1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Jul. 01, 2019	Oct. 31, 2019	Aug. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Apr. 03, 2018
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Revenue				$ 140,688,000	$ 141,493,000	$ 196,535,000	$ 169,935,000	$ 217,633,000	$ 204,575,000	$ 218,556,000	$ 197,438,000	$ 648,651,000	$ 838,202,000	$ 942,213,000
Gross profit				35,083,000	30,587,000	43,894,000	45,831,000	53,448,000	56,995,000	55,350,000	50,244,000	155,395,000	216,037,000	242,348,000
(Loss) income before income taxes and non-controlling interests				(8,459,000)	12,955,000	11,909,000	(3,966,000)	(12,829,000)	16,129,000	3,071,000	(4,972,000)	12,439,000	1,399,000	35,375,000
Net (loss) income				(306,085,000)	7,576,000	(4,604,000)	(2,744,000)	(10,868,000)	9,521,000	2,255,000	(3,607,000)	(305,857,000)	(2,699,000)	311,631,000
Net (loss) income attributable to Altisource				$ (306,106,000)	$ 7,165,000	$ (5,844,000)	$ (3,184,000)	$ (11,485,000)	$ 8,667,000	$ 1,568,000	$ (4,132,000)	$ (307,969,000)	$ (5,382,000)	$ 308,891,000
(Loss) earnings per share:
Basic (in dollars per share)				$ (19.66)	$ 0.45	$ (0.36)	$ (0.20)	$ (0.69)	$ 0.51	$ 0.09	$ (0.24)	$ (19.26)	$ (0.32)	$ 16.99
Diluted (in dollars per share)				$ (19.66)	$ 0.44	$ (0.36)	$ (0.20)	$ (0.69)	$ 0.49	$ 0.09	$ (0.24)	$ (19.26)	$ (0.32)	$ 16.53
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)				15,568	15,897	16,214	16,292	16,745	17,033	17,142	17,378	15,991	17,073	18,183
Diluted (in shares)				15,568	16,151	16,214	16,292	16,745	17,575	17,553	17,378	15,991	17,073	18,692
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Income tax provision												$ 318,296,000	$ 4,098,000	$ (276,256,000)
Income tax expense, foreign income tax reserves				$ 5,600,000					$ 1,600,000					10,500,000
Gain on sale of business												17,814,000	13,688,000	0
Working capital adjustment				300,000
Proceeds from the sale of business, first installment												38,632,000	15,000,000	0
Restructuring charges				5,000,000	$ 2,800,000	$ 1,900,000	$ 4,400,000	$ 8,100,000	3,400,000			14,080,000	11,560,000	0
Loss (gain) related to sales tax exposure												300,000	6,200,000
Net reimbursement from third party												1,700,000
Loss on debt refinancing												0	4,434,000	$ 0
Financial Services Business | Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Total proceeds from the sale of business	$ 44,000,000
Up-front payment included in consideration, subject to working capital adjustment upon closing of the sale	40,000,000
Additional payment to be received on one-year anniversary of the sale closing	4,000,000
Gain on sale of business	$ 17,800,000				17,600,000
Rental Property Management Business | Discontinued Operations, Disposed of by Sale
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Total proceeds from the sale of business			$ 18,000,000
Gain on sale of business					13,700,000								13,700,000
Proceeds from the sale of business, first installment			$ 15,000,000
Future proceeds from the sale of business												3,000,000
Owners.com | Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Goodwill impairment		$ 5,200,000		5,200,000
Intangible asset impairment		$ 700,000		700,000
Buy-Renovate-Lease-Sell Business | Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Goodwill impairment								2,600,000
Loss on sale of inventory						1,800,000
Altisource Residential Corporation
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Unrealized gain (loss) on investment in equity securities				2,700,000	(2,300,000)	11,800,000	2,200,000	(8,800,000)	1,800,000	$ 1,500,000	$ (7,500,000)	$ 14,400,000	$ (13,000,000)
Senior secured term loan
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Loss on debt refinancing										$ 4,400,000
April 3, 2018 Credit Agreement | Term B Loans
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Debt instrument, face amount															$ 412,000,000
Luxembourg
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Change in valuation for net operating loss carryforward				291,500,000
Change in Luxembourg statutory income tax rate				$ (1,700,000)		$ (12,300,000)
Sales Tax Exposure
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Loss (gain) related to sales tax exposure							$ 2,100,000	$ 400,000	$ 5,900,000
Net reimbursement from third party					$ 1,700,000