Seasonal Financing and Debt - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)			1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2013 2013 Senior Notes due March 2018	Mar. 31, 2013 2013 Senior Notes due March 2023	Dec. 31, 2013 2013 Credit Facility	Dec. 31, 2013 2013 Credit Facility Minimum	Dec. 31, 2013 2013 Credit Facility Maximum	Dec. 31, 2013 2011 Credit Facility	Dec. 31, 2013 Foreign Short Term Bank Loans	Dec. 31, 2012 Foreign Short Term Bank Loans	Dec. 31, 2013 Domestic Unsecured Committed Revolving Credit Facility And Other Short Term Borrowings	Dec. 31, 2012 Domestic Unsecured Committed Revolving Credit Facility And Other Short Term Borrowings	Dec. 31, 2013 Medium-term notes	Dec. 31, 2012 Medium-term notes	Dec. 31, 2013 2010 Senior Notes	Dec. 31, 2012 2010 Senior Notes	Dec. 31, 2013 2011 Senior Notes	Dec. 31, 2012 2011 Senior Notes	Dec. 31, 2013 2013 Senior Notes	Dec. 31, 2013 2008 Senior Notes
Debt Disclosure [Line Items]
Terms of credit facility					The agreement governing the credit facility was amended and restated on March 11, 2013 to, among other things, (i) extend the maturity date of the credit facility to March 12, 2018, (ii) increase aggregate commitments under the credit facility to $1.60 billion, with an “accordion feature,” which allows Mattel to increase the aggregate availability under the credit facility to $1.85 billion under certain circumstances, (iii) decrease the applicable interest rate margins to a range of 0.00% to 0.75% above the applicable base rate for base rate loans and 0.88% to 1.75% above the applicable LIBOR 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 0.08% to 0.28% of the unused commitments under the credit facility.
Maturity date					Mar. 12, 2018
Aggregate commitment under the credit facility					$ 1,600,000,000			$ 1,400,000,000
Aggregate commitment under the credit facility, including the accordion feature					1,850,000,000
Interest rate margin for base rate loans						0.00%	0.75%
Interest rate margin for Eurodollar rate loans						0.88%	1.75%
Commitment fee rate for unused commitments						0.08%	0.28%
Consolidated debt-to-earnings before interest taxes depreciation amortization ratio as calculated for covenant compliance	1.16
Debt-to-earnings before interest taxes depreciation amortization ratio maximum for covenant compliance	3.00
Interest coverage ratio as calculated for covenant compliance	17.69
Interest coverage ratio minimum for covenant compliance	3.50
Foreign credit lines available	349,000,000
Outstanding amounts of accounts receivable sold under international factoring arrangements	25,600,000	25,300,000
Short term bank loans outstanding	4,278,000	9,844,000							4,300,000	9,800,000
Average borrowings									38,000,000	44,300,000	262,300,000	661,900,000
Weighted average interest rate as of the balance sheet date									9.40%	7.80%	0.20%	0.40%
Principal of debt instrument			250,000,000	250,000,000
Debt instrument maturity date			Mar. 15, 2018	Mar. 15, 2023
Issuance date			2013-03	2013-03
Interest rate			1.70%	3.15%											5.275%	5.275%	3.975%	3.975%	2.425%
Interest terms of Senior Notes			Interest on the 2013 Senior Notes is payable semi-annually on March 15 and September 15 of each year, beginning September 15, 2013.	Interest on the 2013 Senior Notes is payable semi-annually on March 15 and September 15 of each year, beginning September 15, 2013.
Redemption terms of 2013 Senior Notes			Mattel may redeem all or part of the 1.70% 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 15 basis points.	Mattel may redeem all or part of the 3.15% Senior Notes at any time or from time to time prior to December 15, 2022 (three months prior to the maturity date of the 3.15% Senior Notes) 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 20 basis points. Mattel may redeem all or part of the 3.15% Senior Notes at any time or from time to time on or after December 15, 2022 (three months prior to the maturity date for the 3.15% Senior Notes) at its option, 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%	100.00%
Redemption price option two			0.15%	0.20%
Interest rate range - low end															4.35%	4.35%	2.50%	2.50%	1.70%
Interest rate range - high end															6.20%	6.20%	5.45%	5.45%	3.15%
Repayment of senior notes																				350,000,000
Repayment of medium-term notes													$ 50,000,000	$ 50,000,000