Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Accumulated Deficit [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 618,478	$ 49	$ (26,731)	$ 644,982	$ (1,166)	$ (5,632)	$ 6,976
Common stock, shares outstanding at Dec. 31, 2012		49,160,844
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss) attributable to Acacia Research Corporation	(56,434)					(56,434)
Payments of Dividends	(18,633)			(18,633)
Stock Issued During Period, Value, New Issues	(18,633)
Treasury stock, shares acquired		(600,000)
Stock Repurchased During Period, Shares		(666)
Treasury stock, cost of shares acquired	(7,910)		(7,909)
payments to repurchase restricted common stock	(16)			(16)
Stock options exercised, shares		115,346
Stock options exercised, value	486			486
Stock issued during period, shares, share-based compensation, net of forfeitures		709,533
Compensation expense related to stock options and restricted stock awards	27,894	$ 1		27,893
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	(1,398)			(1,398)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests in operating subsidiaries	(2,408)						(2,408)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in operating subsidiary, net	1,920						1,920
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments	219				219
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	562,198	$ 49	(34,640)	653,314	(947)	(62,066)	6,488
Common stock, shares outstanding at Dec. 31, 2013		49,385,057
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss) attributable to Acacia Research Corporation	(66,029)					(66,029)
Payments of Dividends	(25,039)			(25,039)
Stock Issued During Period, Value, New Issues	(25,039)
Stock options exercised, shares		44,506
Stock options exercised, value	206			206
Stock issued during period, shares, share-based compensation, net of forfeitures		635,819
Compensation expense related to stock options and restricted stock awards	18,115	$ 1		18,114
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	0
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests in operating subsidiaries	(633)						(633)
Foreign Currency Transaction Gain (Loss), Unrealized	(99)				(99)
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments	693				693
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in operating subsidiary	364						364
Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 489,048	$ 50	(34,640)	646,595	(353)	(128,095)	5,491
Common stock, shares outstanding at Dec. 31, 2014	50,065,382	50,065,382
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss) attributable to Acacia Research Corporation	$ (160,036)					(160,036)
Payments of Dividends	$ (25,434)			(25,434)
Stock options exercised, shares	135,000	135,000
Stock options exercised, value	$ 938			938
Stock issued during period, shares, share-based compensation, net of forfeitures		450,857
Compensation expense related to stock options and restricted stock awards	11,048	$ 1		11,047
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	0
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests in operating subsidiaries	2,558						2,558
Foreign Currency Transaction Gain (Loss), Unrealized	(123)				(123)
Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments	261				261
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in operating subsidiary	4,105						4,105
Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 314,155	$ 51	$ (34,640)	$ 633,146	$ (215)	$ (288,131)	$ 3,944
Common stock, shares outstanding at Dec. 31, 2015	50,651,239	50,651,239