Seasonal Financing and Debt - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Outstanding amounts of accounts receivable sold under other international factoring arrangements		25,300,000	25,900,000
Consolidated debt-to-earnings before interest taxes depreciation amortization ratio as calculated for covenant compliance		1.3
Debt-to-earnings before interest taxes depreciation amortization ratio maximum for covenant compliance		3.0
Interest coverage ratio as calculated for covenant compliance		13.6
Interest coverage ratio minimum for covenant compliance		3.50
Foreign credit lines available		275,000,000
Short term bank loans outstanding		9,844,000	8,018,000
2011 Credit Facility
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Maturity date		Mar. 08, 2015
Aggregate commitment under the credit facility		1,400,000,000
Aggregate commitment under the credit facility, including the accordion feature		1,600,000,000
2011 Credit Facility | Minimum
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Interest rate margin for base rate loans		0.25%
Interest rate margin for Eurodollar rate loans		1.25%
Commitment fee rate for unused commitments		0.15%
2011 Credit Facility | Maximum
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Interest rate margin for base rate loans		1.50%
Interest rate margin for Eurodollar rate loans		2.50%
Commitment fee rate for unused commitments		0.40%
2011 Credit Facility | Revolving Credit Facility
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Terms of credit facility		The Credit Facility was amended and restated on March 8, 2011 to, among other things, (i) extend the maturity date of the Credit Facility to March 8, 2015, (ii) increase aggregate commitments under the Credit Facility to $1.40 billion, with an “accordion feature,” which allows Mattel to increase the aggregate availability under the Credit Facility to $1.60 billion under certain circumstances, (iii) decrease the applicable interest rate margins to a range of 0.25% to 1.50% above the applicable base rate for base rate loans, and 1.25% to 2.50% above the applicable London Interbank Borrowing Rate for Eurodollar rate loans, in each case depending on Mattel’s senior unsecured long-term debt rating, and (iv) decrease commitment fees to a range of 0.15% to 0.40% of the unused commitments under the Credit Facility.
2009 Credit Facility
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Aggregate commitment under the credit facility, including the accordion feature		1,100,000,000
Terminated domestic receivables sales facility		300,000,000
Foreign Short Term Bank Loans
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Short term bank loans outstanding		9,844,000	8,018,000
Average borrowings		44,300,000	15,900,000
Weighted average interest rate as of the balance sheet date		7.80%	11.40%
Domestic Unsecured Committed Revolving Credit Facility And Other Short Term Borrowings
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Average borrowings		661,900,000	599,700,000
Weighted average interest rate as of the balance sheet date		0.40%	0.40%
2011 Senior Notes | Unsecured Senior Notes 2.50% Due November 1, 2016
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Principal of debt instrument	300,000,000
Debt instrument maturity date	Nov. 01, 2016	Nov. 01, 2016	Nov. 01, 2016
Issuance date	2011-11
Interest rate	2.50%
Interest terms of Senior Notes	Interest on the 2011 Senior Notes is payable semi-annually on May 1 and November 1 of each year, which began May 1, 2012.
Redemption terms of 2011 Senior Notes	Mattel may redeem all or part of the 2.50% Senior Notes at any time or from time to time at its option, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of the notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest to but excluding the redemption date, and (ii) a "make-whole" amount based on the yield of a comparable US Treasury security plus 25 basis points.
Redemption price option one	100.00%
Redemption price option two	0.25%
2011 Senior Notes | Unsecured Senior Notes 5.45% Due November 1, 2041
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Principal of debt instrument	300,000,000
Debt instrument maturity date	Nov. 01, 2041	Nov. 01, 2041	Nov. 01, 2041
Issuance date	2011-11
Interest rate	5.45%
Interest terms of Senior Notes	Interest on the 2011 Senior Notes is payable semi-annually on May 1 and November 1 of each year, which began May 1, 2012.
Redemption terms of 2011 Senior Notes	Mattel may redeem all or part of the 5.45% Senior Notes at any time or from time to time at its option prior to May 1, 2041 (six months prior to the maturity date of the 5.45% Senior Notes), at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of the notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest to but excluding the redemption date, and (ii) a “make-whole” amount based on the yield of a comparable US Treasury security plus 35 basis points. Mattel may redeem all or part of the 5.45% Senior Notes at any time or from time to time at its option on or after May 1, 2041 (six months prior to the maturity date for the 5.45% Senior Notes), at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to but excluding the redemption date.
Redemption price option one	100.00%
Redemption price option two	0.35%
Medium-Term Notes
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Weighted average interest rate as of the balance sheet date		6.53%	6.89%
Interest rate range - low end		6.50%
Interest rate range - high end		6.61%
Repayment of medium-term notes		50,000,000	50,000,000
2008 Senior Notes
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Interest rate		5.625%	5.625%
2010 Senior Notes
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Weighted average interest rate as of the balance sheet date		5.275%	5.275%
Interest rate range - low end		4.35%	4.35%
Interest rate range - high end		6.20%	6.20%
2006 Senior Notes
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Repayment of senior notes			200,000,000