Shareholders' Equity (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		0 Months Ended				0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		0 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013 Change in net unrealized gains on investments [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Change in net unrealized gains on investments [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Change in net unrealized gains on investments [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Change in net unrealized gains on investments [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Foreign currency translation adjustments [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Foreign currency translation adjustments [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Foreign currency translation adjustments [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Foreign currency translation adjustments [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Preference Shares - Series B [Member]	Sep. 25, 2013 Preference Shares - Series B [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Preference Shares - Series B [Member] Maximum [Member] director	Sep. 30, 2013 Preference Shares - Series B [Member] Minimum [Member]	Aug. 22, 2012 Preference Shares - Series A [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Preference Shares - Series A [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Preference Shares - Series A [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Preference Shares - Series A [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Preference Shares - Series A [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Preference Shares - Series A [Member] Maximum [Member] director
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	150,000,000		150,000,000
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	73,575,384		73,575,384		73,306,283
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	72,613,048		72,613,048		72,343,947
Preference shares issued (in shares)	6,000,000		6,000,000																6,000,000		6,000,000
Preference shares, subscribed but unissued (in shares)	3,000,000		3,000,000											3,000,000
Preference shares authorized (in shares)	300,000		300,000											3,300,000					6,000,000		6,000,000
Preference shares offered (in shares)															3,000,000
Dividend rate of Preference Shares															7.25%			8.25%
Number of Preference Shares issued (in shares)																		6,000,000
Share price (in dollars per share)															$ 50			$ 25.000
Preference shares, issuance costs (in dollars per share)															$ 1.50
Sale price of Preference Shares (in dollars per share)														$ 50				$ 25.00
Preference shares, liquidation preference per share per annum (in dollars per share)														$ 3.625
Preference shares, liquidation preference per share per quarter (in dollars per share)														$ 0.90625
Preference shares, liquidation preference per share in initial quarter (in dollars per share)														$ 0.745139
Convertible Preference shares, Number of common shares issued upon conversion (in shares)																4.0322	3.2258
Par value of Preference Shares (in dollars per share)																		$ 0.01
Preference shares, number of electable board members (in directors)																2							2
Convertible Preference shares, conversion rate measurement period														40 days
Preference shares, dividend rate (in dollars per share)														$ 0.09
Proceeds from issuance of Preference Shares			$ 0	$ 145,041,000														$ 145,041,000
Expenses and underwriting discounts																		4,959,000
Preference shares, outstanding (in shares)																			6,000,000		6,000,000
Redemption price for Preference Shares (in dollars per share)																		$ 25.000
Dividends on Preference shares	3,093,000	0	9,281,000	0															3,093,000	0	9,281,000	0
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	48,025,000	95,552,000	141,126,000	64,051,000		49,247,000	93,830,000	143,665,000	63,737,000	(1,222,000)	1,722,000	(2,539,000)	314,000
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	1,178,000	44,286,000	(88,842,000)	75,806,000		5,922,000	45,986,000	(85,415,000)	76,098,000	(4,744,000)	(1,700,000)	(3,427,000)	(292,000)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	(576,000)	(2,410,000)	(3,657,000)	(2,429,000)		(576,000)	(2,410,000)	(3,657,000)	(2,429,000)	0	0	0	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	602,000	41,876,000	(92,499,000)	73,377,000		5,346,000	43,576,000	(89,072,000)	73,669,000	(4,744,000)	(1,700,000)	(3,427,000)	(292,000)
Ending balance	48,627,000	137,428,000	48,627,000	137,428,000		54,593,000	137,406,000	54,593,000	137,406,000	(5,966,000)	22,000	(5,966,000)	22,000
Less: Accumulated other comprehensive income attributable to non controlling interest	8,000	(13,000)	8,000	(13,000)		0	0	0	0	8,000	(13,000)	8,000	(13,000)
Ending balance, Maiden shareholders	$ 48,619,000	$ 137,441,000	$ 48,619,000	$ 137,441,000	$ 141,130,000	$ 54,593,000	$ 137,406,000	$ 54,593,000	$ 137,406,000	$ (5,974,000)	$ 35,000	$ (5,974,000)	$ 35,000