Other Financial Information - Statement of Comprehensive (loss)/income(Table) (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2017
Jun. 30, 2016
Jun. 30, 2017
Jun. 30, 2016
Condensed Financial Statements Captions [Line Items]        
Revenue $ 118,618 $ 105,733 $ 213,964 $ 207,220
Administrative fee revenue from affiliates 5,360 5,463 10,658 10,945
Time charter, voyage and logistics business expenses (54,078) (36,095) (104,804) (82,476)
Direct vessel expenses (31,783) (34,685) (61,827) (64,759)
General and administrative expenses incurred on behalf of affiliates (5,360) (5,463) (10,658) (10,945)
General and administrative expenses (6,108) (6,392) (12,492) (12,830)
Depreciation and amortization (26,091) (27,132) (51,714) (46,959)
Interest expense and finance cost, net (27,565) (26,698) (54,987) (54,448)
Gain on debt extinguishment 1,715 0 1,715 0
Impairment loss on sale of vessel (5,141) 0 (14,239) 0
(Loss)/income before equity in net earnings of affiliated companies (31,956) (27,799) (87,262) (45,118)
Equity in net (losses)/earnings of affiliated companies (3,775) 3,424 1,307 16,376
Loss before taxes (35,731) (24,375) (85,955) (28,742)
Income tax (expense)/benefit 76 621 493 (424)
Net loss (35,655) (23,754) (85,462) (29,166)
Less: Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest (1,603) (2,662) (515) (4,715)
Net loss attributable to Navios Holdings common stockholders (37,258) (26,416) (85,977) (33,881)
Other Comprehensive income/(loss)        
Unrealized holding gain on investments in available-for-sale securities 0 495 0 100
Reclassification to earnings 0 345 0 345
Total other comprehensive income 0 840 0 445
Total comprehensive loss (35,655) (22,914) (85,462) (28,721)
Comprehensive income attributable to the noncontrolling interest (1,603) (2,662) (515) (4,715)
Total comprehensive loss attributable to Navios Holdings common stockholders (37,258) (25,576) (85,977) (33,436)
Navios Maritime Holdings Inc. Issuer        
Condensed Financial Statements Captions [Line Items]        
General and administrative expenses (1,791) (1,777) (3,597) (3,134)
Depreciation and amortization (701) (701) (1,394) (1,443)
Interest expense and finance cost, net (19,903) (19,170) (39,812) (38,990)
Other income/(expense), net (75) 12 (499) 60
(Loss)/income before equity in net earnings of affiliated companies (22,470) (21,636) (45,302) (43,507)
(Loss)/income from subsidiaries (10,328) (7,695) (40,609) (5,389)
Equity in net (losses)/earnings of affiliated companies (4,460) 2,917 (66) 15,016
Loss before taxes (37,258) (26,414) (85,977) (33,880)
Net loss (37,258) (26,414) (85,977) (33,880)
Net loss attributable to Navios Holdings common stockholders (37,258) (26,414) (85,977) (33,880)
Other Comprehensive income/(loss)        
Unrealized holding gain on investments in available-for-sale securities   495   100
Reclassification to earnings   345   345
Total other comprehensive income   840   445
Total comprehensive loss (37,258) (25,574) (85,977) (33,435)
Total comprehensive loss attributable to Navios Holdings common stockholders (37,258) (25,574) (85,977) (33,435)
Guarantor Subsidiaries        
Condensed Financial Statements Captions [Line Items]        
Revenue 59,238 46,991 110,783 93,259
Administrative fee revenue from affiliates 5,360 5,463 10,658 10,945
Time charter, voyage and logistics business expenses (36,050) (23,176) (72,756) (55,020)
Direct vessel expenses (12,699) (13,302) (25,215) (26,677)
General and administrative expenses incurred on behalf of affiliates (5,360) (5,463) (10,658) (10,945)
General and administrative expenses (200) (1,077) (1,257) (2,860)
Depreciation and amortization (19,011) (20,044) (37,851) (32,455)
Interest expense and finance cost, net (1,368) (1,699) (3,100) (3,425)
Gain on debt extinguishment 1,715   1,715  
Impairment loss on sale of vessel (5,141)   (14,239)  
Other income/(expense), net (255) (524) (834) 12,249
(Loss)/income before equity in net earnings of affiliated companies (13,771) (12,831) (42,754) (14,929)
(Loss)/income from subsidiaries 2,826 4,701 907 8,322
Equity in net (losses)/earnings of affiliated companies 601 843 1,402 1,691
Loss before taxes (10,344) (7,287) (40,445) (4,916)
Income tax (expense)/benefit (68) (73) (135) (142)
Net loss (10,412) (7,360) (40,580) (5,058)
Net loss attributable to Navios Holdings common stockholders (10,412) (7,360) (40,580) (5,058)
Other Comprehensive income/(loss)        
Unrealized holding gain on investments in available-for-sale securities   495   100
Reclassification to earnings   345   345
Total other comprehensive income   840   445
Total comprehensive loss (10,412) (6,520) (40,580) (4,613)
Total comprehensive loss attributable to Navios Holdings common stockholders (10,412) (6,520) (40,580) (4,613)
Non Guarantor Subsidiaries        
Condensed Financial Statements Captions [Line Items]        
Revenue 59,380 58,742 103,181 113,961
Time charter, voyage and logistics business expenses (18,028) (12,919) (32,048) (27,456)
Direct vessel expenses (19,084) (21,383) (36,612) (38,082)
General and administrative expenses (4,117) (3,538) (7,638) (6,836)
Depreciation and amortization (6,379) (6,387) (12,469) (13,061)
Interest expense and finance cost, net (6,294) (5,829) (12,075) (12,033)
Gain on sale of assets 21   1,051  
Other income/(expense), net (1,214) (2,018) (2,596) (3,175)
(Loss)/income before equity in net earnings of affiliated companies 4,285 6,668 794 13,318
Equity in net (losses)/earnings of affiliated companies 84 (336) (29) (331)
Loss before taxes 4,369 6,332 765 12,987
Income tax (expense)/benefit 144 694 628 (282)
Net loss 4,513 7,026 1,393 12,705
Less: Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest (1,603) (2,662) (515) (4,715)
Net loss attributable to Navios Holdings common stockholders 2,910 4,364 878 7,990
Other Comprehensive income/(loss)        
Total comprehensive loss 4,513 7,026 1,393 12,705
Comprehensive income attributable to the noncontrolling interest (1,603) (2,662) (515) (4,715)
Total comprehensive loss attributable to Navios Holdings common stockholders 2,910 4,364 878 7,990
Eliminations        
Condensed Financial Statements Captions [Line Items]        
(Loss)/income from subsidiaries 7,502 2,994 39,702 (2,933)
Loss before taxes 7,502 2,994 39,702 (2,933)
Net loss 7,502 2,994 39,702 (2,933)
Net loss attributable to Navios Holdings common stockholders 7,502 2,994 39,702 (2,933)
Other Comprehensive income/(loss)        
Unrealized holding gain on investments in available-for-sale securities   (495)   (100)
Reclassification to earnings   (345)   (345)
Total other comprehensive income   (840)   (445)
Total comprehensive loss 7,502 2,154 39,702 (3,378)
Total comprehensive loss attributable to Navios Holdings common stockholders 7,502 2,154 39,702 (3,378)
Total        
Condensed Financial Statements Captions [Line Items]        
Revenue 118,618 105,733 213,964 207,220
Administrative fee revenue from affiliates 5,360 5,463 10,658 10,945
Time charter, voyage and logistics business expenses (54,078) (36,095) (104,804) (82,476)
Direct vessel expenses (31,783) (34,685) (61,827) (64,759)
General and administrative expenses incurred on behalf of affiliates (5,360) (5,463) (10,658) (10,945)
General and administrative expenses (6,108) (6,392) (12,492) (12,830)
Depreciation and amortization (26,091) (27,132) (51,714) (46,959)
Interest expense and finance cost, net (27,565) (26,698) (54,987) (54,448)
Gain on debt extinguishment 1,715   1,715  
Impairment loss on sale of vessel (5,141)   (14,239)  
Gain on sale of assets 21   1,051  
Other income/(expense), net (1,544) (2,530) (3,929) 9,134
(Loss)/income before equity in net earnings of affiliated companies (31,956) (27,799) (87,262) (45,118)
Equity in net (losses)/earnings of affiliated companies (3,775) 3,424 1,307 16,376
Loss before taxes (35,731) (24,375) (85,955) (28,742)
Income tax (expense)/benefit 76 621 493 (424)
Net loss (35,655) (23,754) (85,462) (29,166)
Less: Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest (1,603) (2,662) (515) (4,715)
Net loss attributable to Navios Holdings common stockholders (37,258) (26,416) (85,977) (33,881)
Other Comprehensive income/(loss)        
Unrealized holding gain on investments in available-for-sale securities 0 495 0 100
Reclassification to earnings   345 0 345
Total other comprehensive income 0 840 0 445
Total comprehensive loss (35,655) (22,914) (85,462) (28,721)
Comprehensive income attributable to the noncontrolling interest (1,603) (2,662) (515) (4,715)
Total comprehensive loss attributable to Navios Holdings common stockholders $ (37,258) $ (25,576) $ (85,977) $ (33,436)