Subsequent Events (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
 2 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 4 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Feb. 28, 2019
Mar. 31, 2019
Mar. 21, 2019
Apr. 25, 2019
Apr. 23, 2019
Apr. 18, 2019
Apr. 15, 2019
Dec. 31, 2018
Dec. 21, 2018
Dec. 31, 2017
Dec. 31, 2016
Subsequent Event [Line Items]                      
Payments for repurchase of shares               $ 0   $ 571 $ 9,323
Amount outstanding               $ 1,843,912   $ 1,717,768  
2022 Notes                      
Subsequent Event [Line Items]                      
Fixed interest rate               7.375%      
2024 Notes                      
Subsequent Event [Line Items]                      
Fixed interest rate               9.75%      
Series G Depositary Shares                      
Subsequent Event [Line Items]                      
Shares repurchased, price percentage                 66 2/3%    
Series H Depositary Shares                      
Subsequent Event [Line Items]                      
Shares repurchased, price percentage                 66 2/3%    
Navios Acquisition                      
Subsequent Event [Line Items]                      
Expiration date               Dec. 31, 2015      
Interest rate description               LIBOR plus 300 basis points      
Subsequent event | 2022 Notes                      
Subsequent Event [Line Items]                      
Amount outstanding             $ 35,500        
Payments to acquire Notes             $ 17,642        
Subsequent event | Series G Depositary Shares                      
Subsequent Event [Line Items]                      
Number of shares repurchased           8,841          
Payments for repurchase of shares           $ 4,423          
Subsequent event | Series G Depositary Shares | 2024 Notes                      
Subsequent Event [Line Items]                      
Notes payable           $ 3,879          
Subsequent event | Series H Depositary Shares                      
Subsequent Event [Line Items]                      
Number of shares repurchased     10,930                
Payments for repurchase of shares     $ 4,188                
Subsequent event | Series H Depositary Shares | 2024 Notes                      
Subsequent Event [Line Items]                      
Notes payable     $ 4,747                
Subsequent event | Secured Credit Facility                      
Subsequent Event [Line Items]                      
Maximum borrowing capacity       $ 50,000              
Line of credit collateral       Secured by (i) any 2022 Notes purchased by Navios Holdings with these funds and (ii) equity interests in five subsidiaries of the Company that have entered into certain bareboat contracts              
Debt issuance expenses       $ 500              
Expiration date       Apr. 30, 2021              
Amount drawn down       $ 19,000              
Payments to acquire Notes       $ 18,726              
Subsequent event | Secured Credit Facility | First Year                      
Subsequent Event [Line Items]                      
Interest rate description       12.75%              
Subsequent event | Secured Credit Facility | Second Year                      
Subsequent Event [Line Items]                      
Interest rate description       14.75%              
Subsequent event | Navios Meridian                      
Subsequent Event [Line Items]                      
Vessel year built   2002                  
Vessel capacity in DWT   50,316 dwt                  
Vessel sale price   $ 6,790                  
Vessel impairment loss   $ 5,531                  
Subsequent event | Navios Europe I | Navios Revolving Loans I                      
Subsequent Event [Line Items]                      
Payments to fund loans $ 4,000                    
Subsequent event | Navios Containers | First Containership                      
Subsequent Event [Line Items]                      
Vessel year built 2011                    
Vessel capacity in TEU 10,000 TEU                    
Purchase price $ 52,500                    
Maximum borrowing capacity 31,800                    
Amount of credit given by the seller $ 5,000                    
Date of expected delivery Third quarter of 2019                    
Subsequent event | Navios Containers | Second Containership                      
Subsequent Event [Line Items]                      
Vessel year built         2011            
Vessel capacity in TEU         10,000 TEU            
Purchase price         $ 52,500            
Maximum borrowing capacity         31,122            
Amount of credit given by the seller         $ 15,000