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Convertible Debt and Notes Payable (Details) (USD $)
12 Months Ended 40 Months Ended 0 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
letters_of_credit
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Jan. 31, 2014
Oct. 10, 2014
Mar. 10, 2014
Jan. 30, 2014
Components of short-term borrowings and other debt              
Convertible debt $ 118,475,000us-gaap_ConvertibleDebt [1] $ 0us-gaap_ConvertibleDebt          
Note Payable 63,250,000us-gaap_NotesPayable 0us-gaap_NotesPayable          
Other Note payable 0us-gaap_OtherNotesPayable 41,000us-gaap_OtherNotesPayable          
Capital lease obligations 3,894,000us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligations 2,523,000us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligations          
Debt, Long-term and Short-term, Combined Amount 185,619,000us-gaap_DebtLongtermAndShorttermCombinedAmount 2,564,000us-gaap_DebtLongtermAndShorttermCombinedAmount          
Amortization of Debt Discount 4,685,000us-gaap_AmortizationOfDebtDiscountPremium 0us-gaap_AmortizationOfDebtDiscountPremium 0us-gaap_AmortizationOfDebtDiscountPremium        
Cash convertible note hedge transaction 149,500,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromConvertibleDebt 0us-gaap_ProceedsFromConvertibleDebt 0us-gaap_ProceedsFromConvertibleDebt        
Capital Lease Obligations Incurred       7,600,000us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligationsIncurred      
Capital lease interest expense 200,000us-gaap_InterestExpenseLesseeAssetsUnderCapitalLease 100,000us-gaap_InterestExpenseLesseeAssetsUnderCapitalLease 200,000us-gaap_InterestExpenseLesseeAssetsUnderCapitalLease        
Repayments on long-term and short-term borrowings              
Convertible debt 118,475,000us-gaap_ConvertibleDebt [1] 0us-gaap_ConvertibleDebt          
Future minimum lease payments for capital lease obligations              
2015 1,343,000us-gaap_CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsRemainderOfFiscalYear            
2016 1,025,000us-gaap_CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInTwoYears            
2017 938,000us-gaap_CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInThreeYears            
2018 938,000us-gaap_CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInFourYears            
2019 79,000us-gaap_CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueInFiveYears            
Thereafter 0us-gaap_CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDueThereafter            
Subtotal 4,323,000us-gaap_CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsDue            
Less: Amount representing interest (429,000)us-gaap_CapitalLeasesFutureMinimumPaymentsInterestIncludedInPayments [2]            
Capital lease obligations 3,894,000us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligations 2,523,000us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligations          
Number of Letters of Credit 7cown_NumberOfLettersOfCredit            
Minimum              
Components of short-term borrowings and other debt              
Capital Lease Obligation, Initial Term 48 months            
Capital leases, interest rate 0.60%cown_CapitalLeaseObligationInterestRate
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
           
Maximum              
Components of short-term borrowings and other debt              
Capital Lease Obligation, Initial Term 60 months            
Capital leases, interest rate 6.03%cown_CapitalLeaseObligationInterestRate
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
           
Transaction [Domain]              
Components of short-term borrowings and other debt              
Cash convertible note hedge transaction 20,500,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromConvertibleDebt
/ cown_UsepfproceedsAxis
= us-gaap_TransactionDomain
           
Treasury Stock              
Components of short-term borrowings and other debt              
Cash convertible note hedge transaction 300,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromConvertibleDebt
/ cown_UsepfproceedsAxis
= us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember
           
Letter of Credit, San Francisco Office, Expires May 2015 | Letter of Credit              
Future minimum lease payments for capital lease obligations              
Letter of credit, borrowing capacity 82,000us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= us-gaap_LetterOfCreditMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= cown_LetterofCreditSanFranciscoOfficeExpiresMay2015Member
           
Letter of Credit, Boston Office, Expires March 2015 | Letter of Credit              
Future minimum lease payments for capital lease obligations              
Letter of credit, borrowing capacity 382,000us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= us-gaap_LetterOfCreditMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= cown_LetterofCreditBostonOfficeExpiresMarch2015MemberMember
           
Letter of Credit, NY Office, Expires August 2015 | Letter of Credit              
Future minimum lease payments for capital lease obligations              
Letter of credit, borrowing capacity 893,000us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= us-gaap_LetterOfCreditMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= cown_LetterofCreditNYOfficeExpiresAugust2015Member
           
Letter of Credit, NY Office, Expires December 2015 | Letter of Credit              
Future minimum lease payments for capital lease obligations              
Letter of credit, borrowing capacity 3,935,000us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= us-gaap_LetterOfCreditMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= cown_LetterofCreditNYOfficeExpiresDecember2015Member
           
Letter of Credit, NY Office, Expires February 2015 | Letter of Credit              
Future minimum lease payments for capital lease obligations              
Letter of credit, borrowing capacity 1,000,000us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= us-gaap_LetterOfCreditMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= cown_LetterofCreditNYOfficeExpiresFebruary2015Member
           
Letter of Credit, NY Office, Expires June 2015 | Letter of Credit              
Future minimum lease payments for capital lease obligations              
Letter of credit, borrowing capacity 1,861,000us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= us-gaap_LetterOfCreditMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= cown_LetterofCreditNYOfficeExpiresJune2015Member
           
Letter of Credit, NY Office, Expires September 2015 | Letter of Credit              
Future minimum lease payments for capital lease obligations              
Letter of credit, borrowing capacity 127,000us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
/ us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis
= us-gaap_LetterOfCreditMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= cown_LetterofCreditNYOfficeExpiresSeptember2015Member
           
Convertible Debt              
Components of short-term borrowings and other debt              
Convertible debt 118,475,000us-gaap_ConvertibleDebt
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtMember
           
Debt Instrument, Face Amount           149,500,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtMember
 
Interest rate           3.00%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtMember
 
Principal amount of notes being converted           1,000cown_Principalamountofnotesbeingconverted
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtMember
 
Interest on Convertible Debt, Net of Tax 3,600,000us-gaap_InterestOnConvertibleDebtNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtMember
           
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Conversion Price           $ 5.33us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleConversionPrice1
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtMember
 
Discount on debt           35,700,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtMember
 
Amortization of Debt Discount 4,700,000us-gaap_AmortizationOfDebtDiscountPremium
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtMember
           
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage           8.89%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtMember
 
Debt Issuance Cost 3,700,000us-gaap_DebtIssuanceCosts
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtMember
           
Class of Warrant, Exercise Price of Warrants or Rights           $ 7.18us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightExercisePriceOfWarrantsOrRights1
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtMember
 
Repayments on long-term and short-term borrowings              
2015 4,485,000us-gaap_LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalRemainderOfFiscalYear
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtMember
           
2016 4,485,000us-gaap_LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearTwo
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtMember
           
2017 4,485,000us-gaap_LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearThree
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtMember
           
2018 4,485,000us-gaap_LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearFour
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtMember
           
2019 151,743,000us-gaap_LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearFive
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtMember
           
Thereafter 0us-gaap_LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalAfterYearFive
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtMember
           
Subtotal 169,683,000cown_LongTermDebtAndShortTermBorrowingsRepayments
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtMember
           
Less: Amount representing interest (51,208,000)cown_LongTermDebtAndShortTermBorrowingsAmountRepresentingInterest
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtMember
[2]            
Convertible debt 118,475,000us-gaap_ConvertibleDebt
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtMember
           
Senior Notes              
Components of short-term borrowings and other debt              
Convertible debt 63,250,000us-gaap_ConvertibleDebt
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
           
Debt Instrument, Face Amount         63,300,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
   
Interest rate         8.25%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
   
Interest on Convertible Debt, Net of Tax 1,200,000us-gaap_InterestOnConvertibleDebtNetOfTax
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
           
Debt Issuance Cost         2,900,000us-gaap_DebtIssuanceCosts
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
   
Repayments on long-term and short-term borrowings              
2015 5,291,000us-gaap_LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalRemainderOfFiscalYear
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
           
2016 5,218,000us-gaap_LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearTwo
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
           
2017 5,218,000us-gaap_LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearThree
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
           
2018 5,218,000us-gaap_LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearFour
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
           
2019 5,218,000us-gaap_LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalInYearFive
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
           
Thereafter 73,686,000us-gaap_LongTermDebtMaturitiesRepaymentsOfPrincipalAfterYearFive
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
           
Subtotal 99,849,000cown_LongTermDebtAndShortTermBorrowingsRepayments
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
           
Less: Amount representing interest (36,599,000)cown_LongTermDebtAndShortTermBorrowingsAmountRepresentingInterest
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
           
Convertible debt 63,250,000us-gaap_ConvertibleDebt
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
           
Insurance Note              
Components of short-term borrowings and other debt              
Other Note payable             2,000,000us-gaap_OtherNotesPayable
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= cown_InsuranceNoteMember
Interest rate             1.55%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= cown_InsuranceNoteMember
Monthly payment $ 200,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentPeriodicPayment
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= cown_InsuranceNoteMember
           
[1] The carrying amount of the convertible debt includes unamortized discount of $31.0 million.
[2] {F|ahBzfndlYmZpbGluZ3MtaHJkcmoLEgZYTUxEb2MiXlhCUkxEb2NHZW5JbmZvOjA1ZGJjMmVkMDM2YzQ2ZjQ5ODIwMDczMGQyODJlODhlfFRleHRTZWxlY3Rpb246OEQwODcwMUQ0RDMzNkRFNkVDMTRFODYzM0IyODUwRjYM}