Other Financial Information - Balance Sheet (Table) (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
Dec. 31, 2016
Dec. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Current assets [Abstract]        
Cash and cash equivalents $ 135,992 $ 163,412 $ 247,556 $ 187,831
Restricted cash 5,386 13,480 2,564  
Accounts receivable, net 65,829 64,813    
Due from affiliate companies 8,548 12,669    
Total current assets 273,140 302,959    
Deposits for vessels, port terminals and other fixed assets 136,891 73,949    
Vessels, port terminals and other fixed assets, net 1,821,101 1,823,961    
Investments in available-for-sale securities 0 5,173    
Investments in affiliates 160,071 381,746 344,453  
Loan receivable from affiliate companies 23,008 16,474    
Other long-term receivable from affiliate companies 11,105 0    
Total non-current assets 2,479,755 2,655,854    
Total assets 2,752,895 2,958,813 3,127,697  
Current liabilities        
Accounts payable 85,538 72,605    
Accrued expenses and other liabilities 91,749 103,095    
Deferred income and cash received in advance 9,183 13,492    
Due to affiliate companies 32,847 17,791    
Current portion of capital lease obligations 2,639 2,929    
Current portion of long-term debt 29,827 16,944    
Total current liabilities 251,783 226,856    
Capital lease obligations, net of current portion 14,978 17,720    
Long-term payable to affiliate companies 6,399 0    
Loan payable to affiliate company 49,876 0    
Unfavorable lease terms 0 7,526    
Other long-term liabilities and deferred income 43,388 20,878    
Deferred tax liability 11,526 10,917    
Total non-current liabilities 1,697,559 1,621,405    
Total liabilities 1,949,342 1,848,261    
Noncontrolling interest 125,266 121,592    
Total Navios Holdings stockholders' equity 678,287 988,960    
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity 2,752,895 2,958,813    
Eliminations        
Current assets [Abstract]        
Intercompany receivables (74,218) (123,041)    
Total current assets (74,218) (123,041)    
Investments in subsidiaries (1,934,072) (1,922,159)    
Total non-current assets (1,934,072) (1,922,159)    
Total assets (2,008,290) (2,045,200)    
Current liabilities        
Intercompany payables (74,218) (123,041)    
Total current liabilities (74,218) (123,041)    
Total liabilities (74,218) (123,041)    
Total Navios Holdings stockholders' equity (1,934,072) (1,922,159)    
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (2,008,290) (2,045,200)    
Navios Maritime Holdings Inc. Issuer        
Current assets [Abstract]        
Cash and cash equivalents 15,875 34,152 98,539 33,769
Intercompany receivables   10,360    
Due from affiliate companies 2,362 4,833    
Prepaid expenses and other current assets   3    
Total current assets 18,237 49,348    
Investments in subsidiaries 1,641,863 1,636,433    
Investments in affiliates 137,218 356,797    
Goodwill and other intangibles 83,933 86,793    
Total non-current assets 1,863,014 2,080,023    
Total assets 1,881,251 2,129,371    
Current liabilities        
Accounts payable 892 363    
Accrued expenses and other liabilities 32,025 33,244    
Intercompany payables 191,814 123,041    
Total current liabilities 224,731 156,648    
Long-term debt, net of current portion 928,357 983,763    
Loan payable to affiliate company 49,876      
Total non-current liabilities 978,233 983,763    
Total liabilities 1,202,964 1,140,411    
Total Navios Holdings stockholders' equity 678,287 988,960    
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity 1,881,251 2,129,371    
Guarantor Subsidiaries        
Current assets [Abstract]        
Cash and cash equivalents 54,935 47,753 77,085 67,492
Restricted cash 2,486 13,480    
Accounts receivable, net 32,916 38,716    
Intercompany receivables   38,108    
Due from affiliate companies 6,186 7,836    
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 39,778 36,580    
Total current assets 136,301 182,473    
Deposits for vessels, port terminals and other fixed assets   29,695    
Vessels, port terminals and other fixed assets, net 1,411,612 1,396,101    
Investments in subsidiaries 292,209 285,726    
Investments in available-for-sale securities   5,173    
Investments in affiliates 11,978 13,028    
Loan receivable from affiliate companies 23,008      
Other long-term receivable from affiliate companies 11,105 16,474    
Other long-term assets 17,877 21,325    
Goodwill and other intangibles 35,571 52,829    
Total non-current assets 1,803,360 1,820,351    
Total assets 1,939,661 2,002,824    
Current liabilities        
Accounts payable 54,731 45,913    
Accrued expenses and other liabilities 43,823 54,451    
Deferred income and cash received in advance 4,666 6,267    
Intercompany payables (117,596)      
Due to affiliate companies 32,847 17,791    
Current portion of long-term debt 23,476 16,875    
Total current liabilities 41,947 141,297    
Long-term debt, net of current portion 221,437 213,102    
Long-term payable to affiliate companies 6,399      
Unfavorable lease terms   7,526    
Other long-term liabilities and deferred income 41,857 19,360    
Total non-current liabilities 269,693 239,988    
Total liabilities 311,640 381,285    
Total Navios Holdings stockholders' equity 1,628,021 1,621,539    
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity 1,939,661 2,002,824    
Non Guarantor Subsidiaries        
Current assets [Abstract]        
Cash and cash equivalents 65,182 81,507 71,932 86,570
Restricted cash 2,900      
Accounts receivable, net 32,913 26,097    
Intercompany receivables 74,218 74,573    
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 17,607 12,002    
Total current assets 192,820 194,179    
Deposits for vessels, port terminals and other fixed assets 136,891 44,254    
Vessels, port terminals and other fixed assets, net 409,489 427,860    
Investments in affiliates 10,875 11,921    
Other long-term assets 22,551 22,433    
Goodwill and other intangibles 167,647 171,171    
Total non-current assets 747,453 677,639    
Total assets 940,273 871,818    
Current liabilities        
Accounts payable 29,915 26,329    
Accrued expenses and other liabilities 15,901 15,400    
Deferred income and cash received in advance 4,517 7,225    
Current portion of capital lease obligations 2,639 2,929    
Current portion of long-term debt 6,351 69    
Total current liabilities 59,323 51,952    
Long-term debt, net of current portion 421,598 367,499    
Capital lease obligations, net of current portion 14,978 17,720    
Other long-term liabilities and deferred income 1,531 1,518    
Deferred tax liability 11,526 10,917    
Total non-current liabilities 449,633 397,654    
Total liabilities 508,956 449,606    
Noncontrolling interest 125,266 121,592    
Total Navios Holdings stockholders' equity 306,051 300,620    
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity 940,273 871,818    
Total        
Current assets [Abstract]        
Cash and cash equivalents 135,992 163,412 $ 247,556 $ 187,831
Restricted cash 5,386 13,480    
Accounts receivable, net 65,829 64,813    
Intercompany receivables 0 0    
Due from affiliate companies 8,548 12,669    
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 57,385 48,585    
Total current assets 273,140 302,959    
Deposits for vessels, port terminals and other fixed assets 136,891 73,949    
Vessels, port terminals and other fixed assets, net 1,821,101 1,823,961    
Investments in subsidiaries 0 0    
Investments in available-for-sale securities   5,173    
Investments in affiliates 160,071 381,746    
Loan receivable from affiliate companies 23,008      
Other long-term receivable from affiliate companies 11,105 16,474    
Other long-term assets 40,428 43,758    
Goodwill and other intangibles 287,151 310,793    
Total non-current assets 2,479,755 2,655,854    
Total assets 2,752,895 2,958,813    
Current liabilities        
Accounts payable 85,538 72,605    
Accrued expenses and other liabilities 91,749 103,095    
Deferred income and cash received in advance 9,183 13,492    
Intercompany payables 0 0    
Due to affiliate companies 32,847 17,791    
Current portion of capital lease obligations 2,639 2,929    
Current portion of long-term debt 29,827 16,944    
Total current liabilities 251,783 226,856    
Long-term debt, net of current portion 1,571,392 1,564,364    
Capital lease obligations, net of current portion 14,978 17,720    
Long-term payable to affiliate companies 6,399      
Loan payable to affiliate company 49,876      
Unfavorable lease terms   7,526    
Other long-term liabilities and deferred income 43,388 20,878    
Deferred tax liability 11,526 10,917    
Total non-current liabilities 1,697,559 1,621,405    
Total liabilities 1,949,342 1,848,261    
Noncontrolling interest 125,266 121,592    
Total Navios Holdings stockholders' equity 678,287 988,960    
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 2,752,895 $ 2,958,813