Investments in affiliates and investments in available-for-sale securities (Details) - USD ($)
$ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands
2 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended 10 Months Ended 11 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Feb. 21, 2018
Mar. 31, 2018
Mar. 31, 2017
Mar. 20, 2017
Mar. 17, 2017
Sep. 30, 2017
Nov. 09, 2018
Dec. 06, 2018
Dec. 31, 2018
Dec. 21, 2018
Dec. 31, 2017
Dec. 31, 2016
Feb. 28, 2018
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]                          
Investments in affiliates                 $ 91,111   $ 183,160 $ 160,071  
Other than temporary impairment loss on investments                 55,524        
Equity in net earnings of affiliated companies                 (80,205)   4,399 (202,779)  
Dividends received                 $ 5,838   7,298 0  
Stockholders' equity, Reverse stock split                   one-for-ten reverse stock split      
Navios Partners                          
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]                          
General partner interest of Navios Holdings 2.00% 2.00% 2.00% 2.00% 2.00% 2.00%     2.00%        
Number of shares issued-common stock 18,422,000     47,795,000                  
Price per common unit       $ 2.1                  
Private placement of units to directors and/or officers   1,370,044 2,040,000           1,464,494        
Common Units issued in public offering     1,200,442                    
Partners capital account units acquisitions 5,000 27,960 66,131 975,408 266,876 7,376     29,888        
Payments to acquire investment $ 714 $ 64 $ 110 $ 2,048 $ 468 $ 12     $ 27        
Equity in net earnings of affiliated companies                 $ 1,828   1,892 1,833  
Navios Revolving Loans I Transfer | Navios Partners                          
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]                          
Number of shares issued-common stock         13,076,923                
Long-term liability recognized         $ 33,473                
Proceeds from transfer of debt         4,050                
Consideration equity component         $ 29,423                
Navios Acquisition                          
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]                          
Stockholders' equity, Reverse stock split             one-for-15 reverse stock spilt            
Navios Partners                          
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]                          
General partner interest of Navios Holdings                 2.00%        
Common units held by Navios Holdings                 31,053,233        
General Partner units held by Navios Holdings                 3,450,091        
Ownership percentage of Navios Holdings                 20.00%        
Difference between carrying amount of investment and underlying equity in net assets of equity method investee                 $ 80,484   98,608    
Investments in affiliates                 29,328   66,773    
Other than temporary impairment loss on investments                 55,524   0 83,596  
Equity in net earnings of affiliated companies                 16,171   12,570 (5,979)  
Dividends received                 2,068   0 0  
Market value of the investment                 $ 29,328        
Acropolis                          
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]                          
Ownership percentage of Navios Holdings                 35.00%        
Cash consideration from sale of investments               $ 1,000          
Gain on sale of investments               $ 866          
Procceds from sale of investments                 $ 500        
Investments in affiliates                 $ 0   228    
Ownership Interest                 50.00%        
Profit Sharing Arrangement                 Navios Holdings, until the sale of its investment, had a 50% interest in Acropolis, a brokerage firm for freight and shipping charters. Although Navios Holdings owned 50% of Acropolis’ stock, Navios Holdings agreed with the other shareholder that the earnings and amounts declared by way of dividends would be allocated 35% to the Company with the balance to the other shareholder.        
Dividends received                 $ 170   55 85  
Navios Acquisition                          
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]                          
Ownership percentage of Navios Holdings                 35.80%        
Difference between carrying amount of investment and underlying equity in net assets of equity method investee                 $ 87,500   113,597    
Investments in affiliates                 $ 50,374   99,590    
Percentage of voting stock of Navios Holdings in Navios Acquisition                 32.80%        
Other than temporary impairment loss on investments                       144,430  
Equity in net earnings of affiliated companies                 $ (43,378)   (9,875) 29,801  
Dividends received                 5,838   $ 14,595 $ 14,595  
Market value of the investment                 $ 15,812        
Share Repurchase Program | Navios Acquisition                          
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]                          
Share repurchase program, Authorized amount                         $ 25,000
Share repurchase program, Period in force                 2 years        
Number of shares repurchased                 670,962