Other Financial Information - Income Statement (Table) (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Condensed Financial Statements Captions [Line Items]      
Revenue $ 480,820 $ 569,016 $ 512,279
Administrative fee revenue from affiliates 16,177 14,300 7,868
Time charter, voyage and logistics business expenses (247,882) (263,304) (244,412)
Direct vessel expenses (128,168) (130,064) (114,074)
General and administrative expenses incurred on behalf of affiliates (16,177) (14,300) (7,868)
General and administrative expenses (34,183) (45,590) (44,634)
Depreciation and amortization (120,310) (104,690) (98,124)
Loss on bond and debt extinguishment 0 (27,281) (37,136)
Loss on derivatives 0 0 (260)
Gain on sale of assets 0 0 18
(Loss)/income before equity in net earnings of affiliated companies (190,705) (119,731) (128,895)
Equity in net earnings of affiliated companies 61,484 57,751 19,344
(Loss)/income before taxes (129,221) (61,980) (109,551)
Income tax benefit/(expense) 3,154 (84) 4,260
Net (loss)/income (126,067) (62,064) (105,291)
Less: Net (income)/loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest (8,045) 5,861 (3,772)
Net (loss)/income attributable to Navios Holdings common stockholders (134,112) (56,203) (109,063)
Other Comprehensive income/(loss)      
Unrealized holding loss on investments in available-for-sale securities (1,649) (959) (10,614)
Reclassification to earnings 1,782 11,553 0
Total other comprehensive income/(loss) 133 10,594 (10,614)
Total comprehensive (loss)/income (125,934) (51,470) (115,905)
Comprehensive (income)/loss attributable to noncontrolling interest (8,045) 5,861 (3,772)
Total comprehensive (loss)/income attributable to Navios Holdings common stockholders (133,979) (45,609) (119,677)
Navios Maritime Holdings Inc. Issuer      
Condensed Financial Statements Captions [Line Items]      
General and administrative expenses (7,435) (10,343) (8,261)
Depreciation and amortization (2,769) (2,811) (2,811)
Interest expense and finance cost, net (72,924) (73,272) (76,227)
Loss on bond and debt extinguishment     (37,136)
Other income/(expense), net (60) 72 10
(Loss)/income before equity in net earnings of affiliated companies (83,188) (86,354) (124,425)
Income/(loss) from subsidiaries (105,102) (17,418) 6,320
Equity in net earnings of affiliated companies 54,178 47,569 9,042
(Loss)/income before taxes (134,112) (56,203) (109,063)
Net (loss)/income (134,112) (56,203) (109,063)
Net (loss)/income attributable to Navios Holdings common stockholders (134,112) (56,203) (109,063)
Other Comprehensive income/(loss)      
Unrealized holding loss on investments in available-for-sale securities (1,649) (959) (10,614)
Reclassification to earnings 1,782 11,553  
Total other comprehensive income/(loss) 133 10,594 (10,614)
Total comprehensive (loss)/income (133,979) (45,609) (119,677)
Total comprehensive (loss)/income attributable to Navios Holdings common stockholders (133,979) (45,609) (119,677)
Guarantor Subsidiaries      
Condensed Financial Statements Captions [Line Items]      
Revenue 229,772 300,242 275,195
Administrative fee revenue from affiliates 16,177 14,300 7,868
Time charter, voyage and logistics business expenses (177,507) (157,640) (159,225)
Direct vessel expenses (46,142) (52,039) (37,969)
General and administrative expenses incurred on behalf of affiliates (16,177) (14,300) (7,868)
General and administrative expenses (12,740) (20,483) (21,756)
Depreciation and amortization (89,572) (76,792) (71,959)
Interest expense and finance cost, net (11,344) (7,327) (7,350)
Loss on derivatives     (260)
Other income/(expense), net (18,671) (2,357) 13,578
(Loss)/income before equity in net earnings of affiliated companies (126,204) (16,396) (9,746)
Income/(loss) from subsidiaries 14,194 (10,662) 6,202
Equity in net earnings of affiliated companies 5,326 6,555 7,245
(Loss)/income before taxes (106,684) (20,503) 3,701
Income tax benefit/(expense) (397) (360) (294)
Net (loss)/income (107,081) (20,863) 3,407
Less: Net (income)/loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest   (182) (145)
Net (loss)/income attributable to Navios Holdings common stockholders (107,081) (21,045) 3,262
Other Comprehensive income/(loss)      
Unrealized holding loss on investments in available-for-sale securities (1,649) (959) (10,614)
Reclassification to earnings 1,782 11,553  
Total other comprehensive income/(loss) 133 10,594 (10,614)
Total comprehensive (loss)/income (106,948) (10,269) (7,207)
Comprehensive (income)/loss attributable to noncontrolling interest   (182) (145)
Total comprehensive (loss)/income attributable to Navios Holdings common stockholders (106,948) (10,451) (7,352)
Non Guarantor Subsidiaries      
Condensed Financial Statements Captions [Line Items]      
Revenue 251,048 268,774 237,084
Time charter, voyage and logistics business expenses (70,375) (105,664) (85,187)
Direct vessel expenses (82,026) (78,025) (76,105)
General and administrative expenses (14,008) (14,764) (14,617)
Depreciation and amortization (27,969) (25,087) (23,354)
Interest expense and finance cost, net (26,513) (27,546) (24,929)
Loss on bond and debt extinguishment   (27,281)  
Gain on sale of assets     18
Other income/(expense), net (11,470) (7,388) (7,634)
(Loss)/income before equity in net earnings of affiliated companies 18,687 (16,981) 5,276
Equity in net earnings of affiliated companies 1,980 3,627 3,057
(Loss)/income before taxes 20,667 (13,354) 8,333
Income tax benefit/(expense) 3,551 276 4,554
Net (loss)/income 24,218 (13,078) 12,887
Less: Net (income)/loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest (8,045) 6,043 (3,627)
Net (loss)/income attributable to Navios Holdings common stockholders 16,173 (7,035) 9,260
Other Comprehensive income/(loss)      
Total comprehensive (loss)/income 24,218 (13,078) 12,887
Comprehensive (income)/loss attributable to noncontrolling interest (8,045) 6,043 (3,627)
Total comprehensive (loss)/income attributable to Navios Holdings common stockholders 16,173 (7,035) 9,260
Eliminations      
Condensed Financial Statements Captions [Line Items]      
Income/(loss) from subsidiaries 90,908 28,080 (12,522)
(Loss)/income before taxes 90,908 28,080 (12,522)
Net (loss)/income 90,908 28,080 (12,522)
Net (loss)/income attributable to Navios Holdings common stockholders 90,908 28,080 (12,522)
Other Comprehensive income/(loss)      
Unrealized holding loss on investments in available-for-sale securities 1,649 959 10,614
Reclassification to earnings (1,782) (11,553)  
Total other comprehensive income/(loss) (133) (10,594) 10,614
Total comprehensive (loss)/income 90,775 17,486 (1,908)
Total comprehensive (loss)/income attributable to Navios Holdings common stockholders 90,775 17,486 (1,908)
Total      
Condensed Financial Statements Captions [Line Items]      
Revenue 480,820 569,016 512,279
Administrative fee revenue from affiliates 16,177 14,300 7,868
Time charter, voyage and logistics business expenses (247,882) (263,304) (244,412)
Direct vessel expenses (128,168) (130,064) (114,074)
General and administrative expenses incurred on behalf of affiliates (16,177) (14,300) (7,868)
General and administrative expenses (34,183) (45,590) (44,634)
Depreciation and amortization (120,310) (104,690) (98,124)
Interest expense and finance cost, net (110,781) (108,145) (108,506)
Loss on bond and debt extinguishment   (27,281) (37,136)
Loss on derivatives     (260)
Gain on sale of assets     18
Other income/(expense), net (30,201) (9,673) 5,954
(Loss)/income before equity in net earnings of affiliated companies (190,705) (119,731) (128,895)
Income/(loss) from subsidiaries 0 0 0
Equity in net earnings of affiliated companies 61,484 57,751 19,344
(Loss)/income before taxes (129,221) (61,980) (109,551)
Income tax benefit/(expense) 3,154 (84) 4,260
Net (loss)/income (126,067) (62,064) (105,291)
Less: Net (income)/loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest (8,045) 5,861 (3,772)
Net (loss)/income attributable to Navios Holdings common stockholders (134,112) (56,203) (109,063)
Other Comprehensive income/(loss)      
Unrealized holding loss on investments in available-for-sale securities (1,649) (959) (10,614)
Reclassification to earnings 1,782 11,553  
Total other comprehensive income/(loss) 133 10,594 (10,614)
Total comprehensive (loss)/income (125,934) (51,470) (115,905)
Comprehensive (income)/loss attributable to noncontrolling interest (8,045) 5,861 (3,772)
Total comprehensive (loss)/income attributable to Navios Holdings common stockholders $ (133,979) $ (45,609) $ (119,677)