Statutory Reporting, Capital Requirements and Dividends and Retained Earnings Restrictions (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Payment of cash dividends	$ 15,269		$ 15,507		$ 15,774
Property and Casualty Insurance [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Statutory Capital and Surplus	585,986	[1]	565,843	[1]	594,308	[1]
Statutory Net Income	34,468	[1]	10,529	[1]	52,803	[1]
Life, Accident and Health [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Statutory Capital and Surplus	158,720		167,164		158,379
Statutory Net Income	7,420		6,180		13,443
State of Iowa Insurance Department [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Maximum dividend distribution in 2013 without prior approval	31,649
United Fire & Casualty Company [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Intercompany dividend payments that are eliminated in Consolidated Financial Statements	26,950
United Life [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Intercompany dividend payments that are eliminated in Consolidated Financial Statements	16,000				15,000
Addison Insurance Company [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Intercompany dividend payments that are eliminated in Consolidated Financial Statements			3,000
American Indemnity Financial Corporation [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Intercompany dividend payments that are eliminated in Consolidated Financial Statements	1,750		1,700
United Fire & Indemnity Company [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Intercompany dividend payments that are eliminated in Consolidated Financial Statements	1,500
United Fire Lloyds [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Intercompany dividend payments that are eliminated in Consolidated Financial Statements	500
Lafayette Insurance Company [Member]
Statutory Accounting Practices [Line Items]
Intercompany dividend payments that are eliminated in Consolidated Financial Statements			$ 6,750

[1] Because United Fire & Casualty Company owns United Life Insurance Company, the property and casualty statutory capital and surplus includes life, accident and health statutory capital and surplus, and therefore represents our total consolidated statutory capital and surplus.