Other Financial Information - Income Statement (Table) (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
Dec. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Condensed Financial Statements Captions [Line Items]      
Revenue $ 419,782 $ 480,820 $ 569,016
Administrative fee revenue from affiliates 21,799 16,177 14,300
Time charter, voyage and logistics business expenses (175,072) (247,882) (263,304)
Direct vessel expenses (127,396) (128,168) (130,064)
General and administrative expenses incurred on behalf of affiliates (21,799) (16,177) (14,300)
General and administrative expenses (25,295) (34,183) (45,590)
Depreciation and amortization (113,825) (120,310) (104,690)
Gain on bond and debt extinguishment 29,187 0 (27,281)
Loss before equity in net earnings of affiliated companies (96,105) (190,705) (119,731)
Equity/ (loss) in net earnings of affiliated companies (202,779) 61,484 57,751
Loss income before taxes (298,884) (129,221) (61,980)
Income tax benefit/ (expense) (1,265) 3,154 (84)
Net loss (300,149) (126,067) (62,064)
Less: Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest (3,674) (8,045) 5,861
Net loss attributable to Navios Holdings common stockholders (303,823) (134,112) (56,203)
Other Comprehensive income      
Unrealized holding loss on investments in-available-for-sale securities 100 (1,649) (959)
Reclassification to earnings 345 1,782 11,553
Total other comprehensive income 445 133 10,594
Total comprehensive loss (299,704) (125,934) (51,470)
Comprehensive (income)/ loss attributable to noncontrolling interest (3,674) (8,045) 5,861
Total comprehensive loss attributable to Navios Holdings common stockholders (303,378) (133,979) (45,609)
Eliminations      
Condensed Financial Statements Captions [Line Items]      
Loss from subsidiaries 40,384 90,908 28,080
Loss income before taxes 40,384 90,908 28,080
Net loss 40,384 90,908 28,080
Net loss attributable to Navios Holdings common stockholders 40,384 90,908 28,080
Other Comprehensive income      
Unrealized holding loss on investments in-available-for-sale securities (100) 1,649 959
Reclassification to earnings (345) (1,782) (11,553)
Total other comprehensive income (445) (133) (10,594)
Total comprehensive loss 39,939 90,775 17,486
Total comprehensive loss attributable to Navios Holdings common stockholders 39,939 90,775 17,486
Navios Maritime Holdings Inc. Issuer      
Condensed Financial Statements Captions [Line Items]      
General and administrative expenses (5,715) (7,435) (10,343)
Depreciation and amortization (2,860) (2,769) (2,811)
Interest expense and finance cost, net (71,262) (72,924) (73,272)
Gain on bond and debt extinguishment 27,670    
Other income/ (expense), net 75 (60) 72
Loss before equity in net earnings of affiliated companies (52,092) (83,188) (86,354)
Loss from subsidiaries (46,867) (105,102) (17,418)
Equity/ (loss) in net earnings of affiliated companies (204,864) 54,178 47,569
Loss income before taxes (303,823) (134,112) (56,203)
Net loss (303,823) (134,112) (56,203)
Net loss attributable to Navios Holdings common stockholders (303,823) (134,112) (56,203)
Other Comprehensive income      
Unrealized holding loss on investments in-available-for-sale securities 100 (1,649) (959)
Reclassification to earnings 345 1,782 11,553
Total other comprehensive income 445 133 10,594
Total comprehensive loss (303,378) (133,979) (45,609)
Total comprehensive loss attributable to Navios Holdings common stockholders (303,378) (133,979) (45,609)
Guarantor Subsidiaries      
Condensed Financial Statements Captions [Line Items]      
Revenue 199,446 229,772 300,242
Administrative fee revenue from affiliates 21,799 16,177 14,300
Time charter, voyage and logistics business expenses (115,483) (177,507) (157,640)
Direct vessel expenses (51,396) (46,142) (52,039)
General and administrative expenses incurred on behalf of affiliates (21,799) (16,177) (14,300)
General and administrative expenses (5,286) (12,740) (20,483)
Depreciation and amortization (84,337) (89,572) (76,792)
Interest expense and finance cost, net (14,005) (11,344) (7,327)
Gain on bond and debt extinguishment 1,517    
Other income/ (expense), net 14,392 (18,671) (2,357)
Loss before equity in net earnings of affiliated companies (55,152) (126,204) (16,396)
Loss from subsidiaries 6,483 14,194 (10,662)
Equity/ (loss) in net earnings of affiliated companies 3,138 5,326 6,555
Loss income before taxes (45,531) (106,684) (20,503)
Income tax benefit/ (expense) (283) (397) (360)
Net loss (45,814) (107,081) (20,863)
Less: Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest     (182)
Net loss attributable to Navios Holdings common stockholders (45,814) (107,081) (21,045)
Other Comprehensive income      
Unrealized holding loss on investments in-available-for-sale securities 100 (1,649) (959)
Reclassification to earnings 345 1,782 11,553
Total other comprehensive income 445 133 10,594
Total comprehensive loss (45,369) (106,948) (10,269)
Comprehensive (income)/ loss attributable to noncontrolling interest     (182)
Total comprehensive loss attributable to Navios Holdings common stockholders (45,369) (106,948) (10,451)
Non Guarantor Subsidiaries      
Condensed Financial Statements Captions [Line Items]      
Revenue 220,336 251,048 268,774
Time charter, voyage and logistics business expenses (59,589) (70,375) (105,664)
Direct vessel expenses (76,000) (82,026) (78,025)
General and administrative expenses (14,294) (14,008) (14,764)
Depreciation and amortization (26,628) (27,969) (25,087)
Interest expense and finance cost, net (23,425) (26,513) (27,546)
Gain on bond and debt extinguishment     (27,281)
Other income/ (expense), net (9,261) (11,470) (7,388)
Loss before equity in net earnings of affiliated companies 11,139 18,687 (16,981)
Equity/ (loss) in net earnings of affiliated companies (1,053) 1,980 3,627
Loss income before taxes 10,086 20,667 (13,354)
Income tax benefit/ (expense) (982) 3,551 276
Net loss 9,104 24,218 (13,078)
Less: Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest (3,674) (8,045) 6,043
Net loss attributable to Navios Holdings common stockholders 5,430 16,173 (7,035)
Other Comprehensive income      
Total comprehensive loss 9,104 24,218 (13,078)
Comprehensive (income)/ loss attributable to noncontrolling interest (3,674) (8,045) 6,043
Total comprehensive loss attributable to Navios Holdings common stockholders 5,430 16,173 (7,035)
Total      
Condensed Financial Statements Captions [Line Items]      
Revenue 419,782 480,820 569,016
Administrative fee revenue from affiliates 21,799 16,177 14,300
Time charter, voyage and logistics business expenses (175,072) (247,882) (263,304)
Direct vessel expenses (127,396) (128,168) (130,064)
General and administrative expenses incurred on behalf of affiliates (21,799) (16,177) (14,300)
General and administrative expenses (25,295) (34,183) (45,590)
Depreciation and amortization (113,825) (120,310) (104,690)
Interest expense and finance cost, net (108,692) (110,781) (108,145)
Gain on bond and debt extinguishment 29,187   (27,281)
Other income/ (expense), net 5,206 (30,201) (9,673)
Loss before equity in net earnings of affiliated companies (96,105) (190,705) (119,731)
Loss from subsidiaries 0 0 0
Equity/ (loss) in net earnings of affiliated companies (202,779) 61,484 57,751
Loss income before taxes (298,884) (129,221) (61,980)
Income tax benefit/ (expense) (1,265) 3,154 (84)
Net loss (300,149) (126,067) (62,064)
Less: Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest (3,674) (8,045) 5,861
Net loss attributable to Navios Holdings common stockholders (303,823) (134,112) (56,203)
Other Comprehensive income      
Unrealized holding loss on investments in-available-for-sale securities 100 (1,649) (959)
Reclassification to earnings 345 1,782 11,553
Total other comprehensive income 445 133 10,594
Total comprehensive loss (299,704) (125,934) (51,470)
Comprehensive (income)/ loss attributable to noncontrolling interest (3,674) (8,045) 5,861
Total comprehensive loss attributable to Navios Holdings common stockholders $ (303,378) $ (133,979) $ (45,609)