Marcus & Millichap, Inc. Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Selected Balance Sheet Data - Additional Information (Detail)				12 Months Ended
	Jan. 01, 2016	Jan. 01, 2015	Jan. 01, 2014	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) Installments	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2013 USD ($)
Schedule Of Accrued Expenses [Line Items]
SARs frozen liability amount				$ 20,949,000	$ 21,399,000
Interest expense				$ 1,533,000	$ 1,726,000	$ 1,651,000
Maximum payment deferral period for certain commissions payable				3 years
SARs [Member]
Schedule Of Accrued Expenses [Line Items]
SARs frozen liability amount							$ 20,000,000
SARs liability frozen value date					Mar. 31, 2013
SARs liability interest accrual commencement date					Jan. 01, 2014
Interest expense				$ 914,000	$ 857,000	$ 984,000
Treasury note term			10 years
Base spread on SARs liability variable rate			2.00%
SARs liability interest accrual rates	4.273%	4.173%	5.03%
SARs liability number of annual installments \| Installments				10
Estimated payouts description				Estimated payouts within the next twelve months for participants that have separated from service have been classified as current.
Deferred Compensation Liability [Member]
Schedule Of Accrued Expenses [Line Items]
Estimated payouts description				Estimated payouts within the next twelve months for participants that have separated from service have been classified as current.
Deferred Compensation Liability, Minimum Payout Period				2 years
Deferred Compensation Liability, Maximum Payout Period				15 years
Fair value of deferred compensation plan assets				110.00%