Net Income (Loss) Attributable to ORBCOMM Inc. Common Stockholders - Summary of Net (Loss) Income Attributable to ORBCOMM Inc. Common Stockholders (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands |
3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dec. 31, 2015 |
Sep. 30, 2015 |
Jun. 30, 2015 |
Mar. 31, 2015 |
Dec. 31, 2014 |
Sep. 30, 2014 |
Jun. 30, 2014 |
Mar. 31, 2014 |
Dec. 31, 2015 |
Dec. 31, 2014 |
Dec. 31, 2013 |
|
| Earnings Per Share [Abstract] | |||||||||||
| Net (loss) income attributable to ORBCOMM Inc. | $ 239 | $ 1,591 | $ (12,208) | $ (2,873) | $ (5,623) | $ (33) | $ 1,403 | $ (431) | $ (13,251) | $ (4,684) | $ 4,599 |
| Preferred stock dividends on Series A convertible preferred stock | (36) | (37) | (59) | ||||||||
| Net (loss) income attributable to ORBCOMM Inc. common stockholders | $ (13,287) | $ (4,721) | $ 4,540 | ||||||||