Schedule II. Condensed Financial Statements of Parent Company (Condensed Statement of Cash Flows) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income	$ 27,650	$ 51,023	$ 49,904
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities
Other, net	9,847	3,378	(9,943)
Total adjustments	80,542	125,224	165,266
Net cash provided by operating activities	110,104	170,094	214,384
Cash flows from investing activities
Proceeds from maturity of held-to-maturity investments	0	150	493
Purchase of held-to-maturity investments	0	(150)	(42)
Net cash used in investing activities	(19,204)	(61,985)	(112,403)
Cash flows from financing activities
Repurchase of common stock	(5,404)	(29,784)	(3,746)
Issuance of common stock	7,171	4,828	9,922
Tax impact from issuance of common stock	0	0	(816)
Net cash used in financing activities	(115,188)	(107,549)	(97,577)
Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(24,288)	560	4,404
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year - Continuing Operations	95,562	89,194	89,496
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year - Continuing Operations	64,454	95,562	89,194
United Fire Group, Inc.
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income	27,650	51,023	49,904
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities
Equity in net income of subsidiary	(26,184)	(49,933)	(49,908)
Dividends received from subsidiary	105,000	40,000	24,000
Other, net	1,824	1,415	2,995
Total adjustments	80,640	(8,518)	(22,913)
Net cash provided by operating activities	108,290	42,505	26,991
Cash flows from investing activities
Proceeds from maturity of held-to-maturity investments	0	150	0
Purchase of held-to-maturity investments	0	(150)	0
Net cash used in investing activities	0	0	0
Cash flows from financing activities
Payment of cash dividends	(105,408)	(27,337)	(24,591)
Repurchase of common stock	(5,404)	(29,784)	(3,746)
Issuance of common stock	7,171	4,828	9,922
Tax impact from issuance of common stock	0	0	(816)
Net cash used in financing activities	(103,641)	(52,293)	(19,231)
Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents	4,649	(9,788)	7,760
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year - Continuing Operations	4,537	14,325	6,565
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year - Continuing Operations	$ 9,186	$ 4,537	$ 14,325