Financial Instruments (Details) (USD $)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2010
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Effect of interest rate swap hedges on results        
Unrealized gains/(losses) $ 24,915,000 $ 22,121,000 $ (739,000)  
Unrealized and realized losses on interest rate swaps (98,713,000) (126,150,000) (155,173,000)  
Interest rate swap contracts        
Financial Instruments        
Unrealized gains/(losses) related to fair value changes 114,200,000 139,400,000 64,900,000  
Hedge ineffectiveness gains (losses) 0 0 1,800,000  
Interest rate swap contracts | Cash Flow Hedges        
Financial Instruments        
Fair Value of swap liabilities (52,539,000) (168,508,000)    
Fair value of swap assets (53,420,000) (167,622,000)    
Unrealized losses reclassified from accumulated OCI into earnings 88,900,000 116,600,000 67,600,000  
Change in fair value 114,200,000 139,400,000 105,400,000  
Effect of interest rate swap hedges on results        
Total realized losses (120,600,000) (145,600,000) (159,700,000)  
Realized losses deferred in Other Comprehensive Loss 0 0 7,000,000  
Realized losses expensed in consolidated Statements of Operations (120,600,000) (145,600,000) (152,700,000)  
Amortization of deferred realized losses (4,000,000) (4,000,000) (3,500,000)  
Unrealized gains/(losses) 25,200,000 22,800,000 (900,000)  
Unrealized and realized losses on interest rate swaps (99,400,000) (126,800,000) (157,100,000)  
Number of new buildings cancelled which resulted in over-hedging position       3
Realized losses attributable to over-hedging position 0 0 19,000,000  
The Royal Bank of Scotland | Interest rate swap contracts | 5.07% p.a.        
Financial Instruments        
Notional Amount on Effective Date 200,000,000      
Fixed Rate (Danaos pays) (as a percent) 5.07%      
Floating Rate (Danaos receives) (as a percent) USD LIBOR 3M BBA      
Fair Value of swap liabilities (2,011,000) (11,586,000)    
The Royal Bank of Scotland | Interest rate swap contracts | 4.922% p.a.        
Financial Instruments        
Notional Amount on Effective Date 200,000,000      
Fixed Rate (Danaos pays) (as a percent) 4.922%      
Floating Rate (Danaos receives) (as a percent) USD LIBOR 3M BBA      
Fair Value of swap liabilities   (2,052,000)    
The Royal Bank of Scotland | Interest rate swap contracts | 4.9775% p.a.        
Financial Instruments        
Notional Amount on Effective Date 200,000,000      
Fixed Rate (Danaos pays) (as a percent) 4.9775%      
Floating Rate (Danaos receives) (as a percent) USD LIBOR 3M BBA      
Fair Value of swap liabilities   (6,732,000)    
The Royal Bank of Scotland | Interest rate swap contracts | 5.12% p.a.        
Financial Instruments        
Notional Amount on Effective Date 100,000,000      
Fixed Rate (Danaos pays) (as a percent) 5.12%      
Floating Rate (Danaos receives) (as a percent) USD LIBOR 3M BBA      
Fair Value of swap liabilities (4,246,000) (8,919,000)    
The Royal Bank of Scotland | Interest rate swap contracts | 5.07% p.a.        
Financial Instruments        
Notional Amount on Effective Date 100,000,000      
Fixed Rate (Danaos pays) (as a percent) 5.07%      
Floating Rate (Danaos receives) (as a percent) USD LIBOR 3M BBA      
Fair Value of swap liabilities (4,248,000) (8,869,000)    
HSH Nordbank | Interest rate swap contracts | 4.855% p.a.        
Financial Instruments        
Notional Amount on Effective Date 400,000,000      
Fixed Rate (Danaos pays) (as a percent) 4.855%      
Floating Rate (Danaos receives) (as a percent) USD LIBOR 3M BBA      
Fair Value of swap liabilities   (17,298,000)    
CITI | Interest rate swap contracts | 5.124% p.a.        
Financial Instruments        
Notional Amount on Effective Date 200,000,000      
Fixed Rate (Danaos pays) (as a percent) 5.124%      
Floating Rate (Danaos receives) (as a percent) USD LIBOR 3M BBA      
Fair Value of swap liabilities (2,895,000) (12,520,000)    
CITI | Interest rate swap contracts | 5.1775% p.a.        
Financial Instruments        
Notional Amount on Effective Date 200,000,000      
Fixed Rate (Danaos pays) (as a percent) 5.1775%      
Floating Rate (Danaos receives) (as a percent) USD LIBOR 3M BBA      
Fair Value of swap liabilities (3,008,000) (12,738,000)    
CITI | Interest rate swap contracts | 4.9975% p.a.        
Financial Instruments        
Notional Amount on Effective Date 250,000,000      
Fixed Rate (Danaos pays) (as a percent) 4.9975%      
Floating Rate (Danaos receives) (as a percent) USD LIBOR 3M BBA      
Fair Value of swap liabilities   (9,797,000)    
CITI | Interest rate swap contracts | 5.1% p.a.        
Financial Instruments        
Notional Amount on Effective Date 250,000,000      
Fixed Rate (Danaos pays) (as a percent) 5.10%      
Floating Rate (Danaos receives) (as a percent) USD LIBOR 3M BBA      
Fair Value of swap liabilities (10,167,000) (21,774,000)    
CITI | Interest rate swap contracts | 4.98% p.a.        
Financial Instruments        
Notional Amount on Effective Date 100,000,000      
Fixed Rate (Danaos pays) (as a percent) 4.98%      
Floating Rate (Danaos receives) (as a percent) USD LIBOR 3M BBA      
Fair Value of swap liabilities (4,249,000) (8,754,000)    
CITI | Interest rate swap contracts | 4.695% p.a.        
Financial Instruments        
Notional Amount on Effective Date 200,000,000      
Fixed Rate (Danaos pays) (as a percent) 4.695%      
Floating Rate (Danaos receives) (as a percent) USD LIBOR 3M BBA      
Fair Value of swap liabilities (9,524,000) (17,870,000)    
Eurobank | Interest rate swap contracts | 4.8125% p.a.        
Financial Instruments        
Notional Amount on Effective Date 200,000,000      
Fixed Rate (Danaos pays) (as a percent) 4.8125%      
Floating Rate (Danaos receives) (as a percent) USD LIBOR 3M BBA      
Fair Value of swap liabilities (8,428,000) (17,067,000)    
Eurobank | Interest rate swap contracts | 4.755% p.a.        
Financial Instruments        
Notional Amount on Effective Date 200,000,000      
Fixed Rate (Danaos pays) (as a percent) 4.755%      
Floating Rate (Danaos receives) (as a percent) USD LIBOR 3M BBA      
Fair Value of swap liabilities (3,763,000) (12,532,000)    
ABN Amro | Interest rate swap contracts | 1.4975% p.a.        
Financial Instruments        
Notional Amount on Effective Date 325,000,000      
Fixed Rate (Danaos pays) (as a percent) 1.4975%      
Floating Rate (Danaos receives) (as a percent) USD LIBOR 3M BBA      
Fair value of swap assets (617,000) 382,000    
ABN Amro | Interest rate swap contracts | 1.4125% p.a.        
Financial Instruments        
Notional Amount on Effective Date 250,000,000      
Fixed Rate (Danaos pays) (as a percent) 1.4125%      
Floating Rate (Danaos receives) (as a percent) USD LIBOR 3M BBA      
Fair value of swap assets $ (264,000) $ 504,000