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Document and Entity Information - USD ($)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Mar. 02, 2021
Jun. 30, 2020
Entity Information [Line Items]      
Document Type 10-K    
Document Annual Report true    
Document Period End Date Dec. 31, 2020    
Document Transition Report false    
Entity File Number 001-34516    
Entity Registrant Name Cowen Inc.    
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code DE    
Entity Tax Identification Number 27-0423711    
Entity Address, Address Line One 599 Lexington Avenue    
Entity Address, City or Town New York    
Entity Address, State or Province NY    
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code 10022    
City Area Code 646    
Local Phone Number 562-1010    
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer No    
Entity Voluntary Filers No    
Entity Current Reporting Status Yes    
Entity Interactive Data Current Yes    
Entity Filer Category Accelerated Filer    
Entity Small Business false    
Entity Emerging Growth Company false    
ICFR Auditor Attestation Flag false    
Entity Shell Company false    
Entity Public Float     $ 429,938,446
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding   26,673,114  
Documents Incorporated by Reference
Documents incorporated by reference:
Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K incorporates by reference information (to the extent specific sections are referred to herein) from the Registrant's Proxy Statement for its 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
    
Entity Central Index Key 0001466538    
Current Fiscal Year End Date --12-31    
Document Fiscal Year Focus 2020    
Document Fiscal Period Focus FY    
Amendment Flag false    
Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share | The Nasdaq Global Market      
Entity Information [Line Items]      
Title of 12(b) Security Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share    
Trading Symbol COWN    
Security Exchange Name NASDAQ    
7.35% Senior Notes due 2027 | The Nasdaq Global Market      
Entity Information [Line Items]      
Title of 12(b) Security 7.35% Senior Notes due 2027    
Trading Symbol COWNZ    
Security Exchange Name NASDAQ    
7.75% Senior Notes due 2033 | The Nasdaq Global Market      
Entity Information [Line Items]      
Title of 12(b) Security 7.75% Senior Notes due 2033    
Trading Symbol COWNL    
Security Exchange Name NASDAQ