Share Based Compensation (Details Textual) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended				6 Months Ended				1 Months Ended		6 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012 Minimum [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 MoneyGram International Inc [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Performance unit incentive plan (PUP) [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Performance unit incentive plan (PUP) [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Performance unit incentive plan (PUP) [Member]	Jan. 31, 2012 PBRS Units [Member]	Jan. 31, 2011 PBRS Units [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 PBRS Units [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Restricted Stock Units and Performance Based Restricted Stock Units [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Restricted Stock Units and Performance Based Restricted Stock Units [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Restricted Stock Units and Performance Based Restricted Stock Units [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Restricted Stock Units and Performance Based Restricted Stock Units [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Restricted Stock Units and Performance Based Restricted Stock Units [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Stock options [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Stock options [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Stock options [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Stock options [Member]	Feb. 28, 2012 Restricted Stock [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Restricted Stock [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Restructuring Charges [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Restructuring Charges [Member]
Share Based Compensation (Textual) [Abstract]
Share-based compensation before income tax benefit	$ 1,637,000	$ 1,360,000	$ 2,854,000	$ 2,293,000										$ 79,000	$ 46,000	$ 160,000	$ 89,000		$ 153,000	$ 183,000	$ 302,000	$ 330,000			$ 95,000,000	$ 124,000,000
Unamortized cost																								5,600,000
Recognition Period of Unrecognized cost																					1 year			2 years 3 months 18 days
Repurchase of Common Stock for Employee Tax Withholding Obligations amount			1,000,000	679,000
Repurchase of Common Stock for Employee Tax Withholding Obligations amount, shares			50,894	28,627
Shares Available for Grant	1,055,907		1,055,907
Payments To Employees								0	0		35,000	52,000											257,000
Liability awards recorded								1,400,000		714,000				343,000		343,000		475,000
Forfeited Awards																								(3,450)
Total unrecognized cost related to non-vested stock option awards	$ 384,000		$ 384,000
stock options granted			0				2,402
stock options outstanding minimum							$ 19.57
weighted-average remaining contractual life							1 year
Weighted-average exercised	$ 21.95		$ 21.95		$ 23.32	$ 19.57
Effective vesting date													Dec. 31, 2009
PUP award vested								0	0															189,071