Basis of presentation (Details)		3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($) Segment Country Region VEF / $ ARS / $	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) VEF / $	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) VEF / $	Mar. 31, 2014 VEF / $
Number of operating segments | Segment		9
Number of countries in which the entity operates, within the five largest markets | Country		5
Number of regions in which the entity operates, within global markets | Region		3
Foreign Currency Transaction [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 186,800,000			$ 168,800,000	$ 198,300,000	$ 176,200,000
Accumulated other comprehensive losses related to Venezuela		867,500,000				891,900,000
Venezuela impairment charge			$ 800,000	$ 34,500,000
Revenues		721,800,000			776,100,000
Venezuela
Foreign Currency Transaction [Abstract]
Official exchange rate | VEF / $							51
Foreign currency transaction losses					(18,000,000)
Income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest		$ 500,000			(5,600,000)
Remeasurement rate | VEF / $		273
Accumulated other comprehensive losses related to Venezuela		$ 112,900,000
Carrying value of long-lived assets		6,500,000
Ireland
Foreign Currency Transaction [Abstract]
Revenues						$ 15,000,000
Severance costs		4,200,000
Losses associated with exiting operations		$ 1,700,000
Argentina
Foreign Currency Transaction [Abstract]
Official exchange rate | ARS / $		14.7
Minimum | Venezuela
Foreign Currency Transaction [Abstract]
Official exchange rate | VEF / $						170		49
Minimum | Ireland
Foreign Currency Transaction [Abstract]
Additional restructuring costs		$ 5,000,000
Maximum | Venezuela
Foreign Currency Transaction [Abstract]
Official exchange rate | VEF / $						200		52
Maximum | Ireland
Foreign Currency Transaction [Abstract]
Additional restructuring costs		10,000,000
Venezuelan bolívar fuerte | Venezuela
Foreign Currency Transaction [Abstract]
Amount approved to be obtained						$ 1,200,000
Net remeasurement loss		(2,800,000)
Nonmonetary assets		15,300,000				13,500,000
Investment in Venezuela operations		24,500,000				26,000,000
Net monetary assets		4,200,000				9,500,000
Cash and cash equivalents		10,100,000				6,200,000
Accumulated other comprehensive losses related to Venezuela		112,900,000				113,000,000
Argentine pesos | Argentina
Foreign Currency Transaction [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents		9,700,000
Losses from converting local pesos into U.S. dollars		100,000			$ 0
Argentine pesos | Minimum | Argentina
Foreign Currency Transaction [Abstract]
Percent less favorable	30.00%
Argentine pesos | Maximum | Argentina
Foreign Currency Transaction [Abstract]
Percent less favorable	40.00%
Venezuela Investment | Venezuela
Foreign Currency Transaction [Abstract]
Net payables to other Brink's affiliates		$ 15,100,000				$ 18,700,000