Consolidated Statements Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Noncontrol-ling interest
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016		32,093,294
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 438,636	$ 3,209	$ 0	$ 457,364	$ (33,677)	$ 11,740
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to Ebix, Inc.	100,618			100,618
Net income attributable to noncontrolling	1,965					1,965
Cumulative translation adjustment	9,654				9,654
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		3,500
Exercise of stock options	52	$ 0	52
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)		(687,048)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock	(39,382)	$ (68)	(1,852)	(37,462)
Deferred compensation and amortization related to options and restricted stock	2,818		2,818
Vesting of restricted stock (in shares)		72,816
Vesting of restricted stock	$ 0	$ 7	(7)
Forfeiture of certain shares to satisfy exercise costs and the recipients income tax obligations related to stock options exercised and restricted stock vested (in shares)	(6,134)	(6,134)
Forfeiture of certain shares to satisfy exercise costs and the recipients income tax obligations related to stock options exercised and restricted stock vested	$ (398)	$ 0	(398)
Noncontrolling interest	27,778					27,778
Capital Contribution to joint venture, loans converted to capital contribution	1,563		797			766
Common stock dividends paid, $0.30 per share	(9,545)			(9,545)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017		31,476,428
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	533,759	$ 3,148	1,410	510,975	(24,023)	42,249
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Effect of Adoption, Quantification	(8,800)
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Effect of Adoption, Quantification | Calculated under Revenue Guidance in Effect before Topic 606 [Member]	(8,714)			(8,714)
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Effect of Adoption, Quantification | ASC 340-40	(1,446)			(1,446)
Net income attributable to Ebix, Inc.	93,139			93,139
Net income attributable to noncontrolling	(58)					(58)
Cumulative translation adjustment	(39,354)				(39,354)
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		27,999
Exercise of stock options	439	$ 3	436
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)		(996,773)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock	(49,620)	$ (100)	0	(49,520)
Deferred compensation and amortization related to options and restricted stock	2,811		2,811
Vesting of restricted stock (in shares)		68,946
Vesting of restricted stock	$ 0	$ 6	(6)
Forfeiture of certain shares to satisfy exercise costs and the recipients income tax obligations related to stock options exercised and restricted stock vested (in shares)	(8,875)	(8,875)
Forfeiture of certain shares to satisfy exercise costs and the recipients income tax obligations related to stock options exercised and restricted stock vested	$ (467)	$ 0	(467)
Noncontrolling interest	23,264		(787)			24,051
Common stock dividends paid, $0.30 per share	(9,316)			(9,316)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018		30,567,725
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	544,437	$ 3,057	3,397	535,118	(63,377)	66,242
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to Ebix, Inc.	96,720			96,720
Net income attributable to noncontrolling	(6,149)					(6,149)
Cumulative translation adjustment	(15,021)				(15,021)
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)		(95,000)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock	(4,152)	$ (10)	0	(4,142)
Deferred compensation and amortization related to options and restricted stock	3,397		3,397
Vesting of restricted stock (in shares)		24,107
Vesting of restricted stock	0	$ 2	(2)
Forfeiture of certain shares to satisfy exercise costs and the recipients income tax obligations related to stock options exercised and restricted stock vested (in shares)		(4,788)
Forfeiture of certain shares to satisfy exercise costs and the recipients income tax obligations related to stock options exercised and restricted stock vested	(230)	$ 0	(230)
Noncontrolling interest	(10,364)		398			(10,762)
Common stock dividends paid, $0.30 per share	(9,193)			(9,193)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019		30,492,044
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 599,445	$ 3,049	$ 6,960	$ 618,503	$ (78,398)	$ 49,331