Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Guarantor And Non-Guarantor Financial Information (Condensed Consolidated Statement Of Cash Flow) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	$ (57,821)	$ (39,197)
Payments for acquisition of businesses, net of cash received	(18,595)	(41,842)
Purchases of property and equipment	(4,756)	(4,953)
Other	16	(483)
Net cash used in investing activities	(23,335)	(47,278)
Borrowings under revolving line of credit		25,000
Payments of long-term debt and capital lease obligations	(156)	(872)
Net issuance of common stock and other	(1,017)	(838)
Purchase and retirement of common stock		(209,400)
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation	55	43
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(1,118)	(186,067)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	289	339
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(81,985)	(272,203)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	264,423	384,570
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	182,438	112,367
FTI Consulting, Inc. [Member]
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(62,143)	(17,224)
Payments for acquisition of businesses, net of cash received	(18,231)	(22,982)
Purchases of property and equipment	(1,315)	(1,397)
Other	16	(483)
Net cash used in investing activities	(19,530)	(24,862)
Borrowings under revolving line of credit		25,000
Payments of long-term debt and capital lease obligations	(125)	(776)
Net issuance of common stock and other	(647)	(838)
Purchase and retirement of common stock		(209,400)
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation	55	43
Intercompany transfers	11,694	(37,435)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	10,977	(223,406)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(70,696)	(265,492)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	161,180	292,738
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	90,484	27,246
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	10,676	(6,496)
Purchases of property and equipment	(2,860)	(2,770)
Net cash used in investing activities	(2,860)	(2,770)
Payments of long-term debt and capital lease obligations	(31)	(96)
Intercompany transfers	(7,870)	8,535
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(7,901)	8,439
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(85)	(827)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	197	1,430
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	112	603
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	(6,354)	(15,477)
Payments for acquisition of businesses, net of cash received	(364)	(18,860)
Purchases of property and equipment	(581)	(786)
Net cash used in investing activities	(945)	(19,646)
Net issuance of common stock and other	(370)
Intercompany transfers	(3,824)	28,900
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(4,194)	28,900
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	289	339
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(11,204)	(5,884)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	103,046	90,402
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$ 91,842	$ 84,518