Consolidated Statements Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	Retained Earnings Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Noncontrol-ling interest
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017			31,476,428
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 533,759		$ 3,148	$ 1,410	$ 510,975		$ (24,023)	$ 42,249
Beginning Balance (Topic 606) at Dec. 31, 2017		$ (8,714)				$ (8,714)
Beginning Balance (ASC 340-40) at Dec. 31, 2017		$ (1,446)				$ (1,446)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to Ebix, Inc.	93,139				93,139
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(58)							(58)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(39,354)						(39,354)
Exercise of stock options (in shares)			27,999
Exercise of stock options	439		$ 3	436
Repurchase and retirement of common stock (in shares)			(996,773)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock	(49,620)		$ (100)		(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)
Forfeiture of certain shares to satisfy exercise costs and the recipients income tax obligations related to stock options exercised and restricted stock vested	(467)			(467)
Noncontrolling interest	23,264			(787)				24,051
Common stock dividends paid	(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 loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(6,149)							(6,149)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(15,021)						(15,021)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock (in shares)			(95,000)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock	(4,152)		$ (10)		(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)			(230)
Noncontrolling interest	(10,364)			398				(10,762)
Common stock dividends paid	(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
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to Ebix, Inc.	92,377				92,377
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(3,550)							(3,550)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(23,105)						(23,105)
Exercise of stock options (in shares)			30,000
Exercise of stock options	636		$ 3	633
Deferred compensation and amortization related to options and restricted stock	4,792			4,792
Vesting of restricted stock (in shares)			68,504
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)			(75,214)
Forfeiture of certain shares to satisfy exercise costs and the recipients income tax obligations related to stock options exercised and restricted stock vested	(2,589)		$ (7)	(1,253)	(1,329)
Noncontrolling interest	1,343							1,343
Common stock dividends paid	(9,245)				(9,245)
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2020			30,515,334
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2020	$ 660,104		$ 3,052	$ 11,126	$ 700,304		$ (101,503)	$ 47,125