Commitments and Contingencies - Unconditional Purchase Obligations (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)
Unconditional purchase obligations
Payments towards purchase obligations	$ 39,779
Future unconditional purchase obligations
2021	58,061
2022	36,018
2023	26,144
2024	24,367
Thereafter	14,093
Total	$ 158,683

The cash outflow from payments for purchase obligations.

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	clvt_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Recorded Unconditional Purchase Obligation Due After Fourth Year

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	clvt_RecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationDueAfterFourthYear
Namespace Prefix:	clvt_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of the recorded obligation to transfer funds in the future for fixed or minimum amounts or quantities of goods or services at fixed or minimum prices (for example, as in take-or-pay contracts or throughput contracts).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 440
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121559207&loc=d3e25383-109308

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of recorded unconditional purchase obligation to be paid in fourth fiscal year following current fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported from current statement of financial position date (rolling approach).

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of recorded unconditional purchase obligation to be paid in second fiscal year following current fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported from current statement of financial position date (rolling approach).

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of recorded unconditional purchase obligation to be paid in third fiscal year following current fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported from current statement of financial position date (rolling approach).

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of recorded unconditional purchase obligation to be paid in next fiscal year following current fiscal year. Excludes interim and annual periods when interim periods are reported from current statement of financial position date (rolling approach).

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RecordedUnconditionalPurchaseObligationDueWithinOneYear
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_UnconditionalPurchaseObligationsExcludingCapitalStockRedemptionsAbstract
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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration