Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	12 Months Ended
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	Dec. 31, 2017
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation and Management Representation	Basis of Presentation and Management Representation The consolidated financial statements include accounts, after elimination of intercompany accounts and transactions, of Conifer Holdings, Inc. (the “Company” or “Conifer”), its wholly owned subsidiaries Conifer Insurance Company ("CIC"), Red Cedar Insurance Company ("RCIC"), White Pine Insurance Company ("WPIC"), and Sycamore Insurance Agency, Inc. ("SIA"). CIC, WPIC, and RCIC are collectively referred to as the "Insurance Company Subsidiaries." On a stand-alone basis Conifer Holdings, Inc is referred to as the "Parent Company." On December 30, 2016, the Company's wholly owned subsidiary, American Colonial Insurance Company ("ACIC") was merged into WPIC. The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”), which differ from statutory accounting practices prescribed or permitted for insurance companies by regulatory authorities.
Affiliate	Affiliate Prior to September 30, 2015, the consolidated financial statements included a 50%-owned affiliate, Venture Holdings, Inc. (the “Affiliate”) which the Company controlled due to its majority representation on the entity’s board of directors. Consolidated net income or loss was allocated to the Company and noncontrolling interest in proportion to their percentage ownership interests. As of September 30, 2015, the Company no longer controlled the Affiliate but retained significant influence. As a result the entity was deconsolidated from the consolidated financial statements and recognized as an investment in an affiliate utilizing the equity method of accounting.
Use of Estimates	Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.
Cash and Short-term Investments	Cash and Short-term Investments Cash consists of cash deposits in banks, generally in operating accounts. Short-term investments, consisting of money-market funds, are classified as investments in the consolidated balance sheets as they relate principally to the Company’s investment activities. The Company maintains its cash deposits in major banks and invests short-term funds in institutional money-market funds and short-term financial instruments. These securities typically mature within three months or less.
Investment Securities and Other-than-temporary Impairments	Investment Securities Investment securities, consisting of debt and equity securities, are classified as available for sale and reported at fair value. The Company determines the fair value using the market approach, which uses quoted prices or other relevant data based on market transactions involving identical or comparable assets. The Company purchases the available-for-sale debt securities with the expectation that they will be held to maturity, but the Company may sell them if market conditions or credit‑related risk warrant earlier sales. The Company does not have any securities classified as held-to-maturity or trading. The change in unrealized gain and loss on the investment securities is recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of the related deferred tax effect, until realized. The debt securities portfolio includes mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities. The Company recognizes income from these securities using a constant effective yield based on anticipated prepayments and the estimated economic life of the securities. When actual prepayments differ significantly from anticipated prepayments, the estimated economic life is recalculated and the remaining unamortized premium or discount is amortized prospectively over the remaining economic life. Premiums and discounts on mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities are amortized or accreted over the life of the related available‑for‑sale security as an adjustment to yield using the effective interest method. Such amortization and accretion is included in interest income in the consolidated statements of operations. Dividend and interest income are recognized when earned. Realized gains and losses from the sale of available-for-sale securities are determined on a specific-identification basis and included in earnings on the trade date. Other-than-Temporary Impairments The Company reviews its impaired securities for possible other-than-temporary impairment ("OTTI") at each quarter-end. A security has an impairment loss when its fair value is less than its cost or amortized cost at the balance sheet date. The Company considers the following factors in performing its review: (i) the amount by which the security’s fair value is less than its cost, (ii) length of time the security has been impaired, (iii) whether management has the intent to sell the security, (iv) if it is more likely than not that management will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis, (v) whether the impairment is due to an issuer‑specific event, credit issues or change in market interest rates, (vi) the security’s credit rating and any recent downgrades or (vii) stress testing of expected cash flows under different scenarios. If the Company determines that a security has experienced an OTTI, the impairment is recognized as a realized investment loss in the consolidated statements of operations. For each impaired security, the Company determines if: (i) it does not intend to sell the security and (ii) it will more likely than not be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis. If the Company cannot assert these conditions, an OTTI loss is recorded through the consolidated statements of operations in the current period. For all other impaired securities, except equity securities, the Company will assess whether the net present value of the cash flows expected to be collected from the security is less than its amortized cost basis. Such a shortfall in cash flows is referred to as a “credit loss.” For any such security, the Company separates the impairment loss into: (i) the credit loss and (ii) the non-credit loss, which is the amount related to all other factors such as interest rate changes, fluctuations in exchange rates and market conditions. The credit loss charge is recorded to the current period statements of operations and the non-credit loss is recorded to accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), within shareholders’ equity, on an after-tax basis. A security’s cost basis is permanently reduced by the amount of a credit loss. Income is accreted over the remaining life of a debt security based on the interest rate necessary to discount the expected future cash flows to the new basis. If the security is non-income producing, any cash proceeds is applied as a reduction of principal when received. For equity securities, if the impairment is deemed an OTTI, the loss is recognized in the statements of operations.
Recognition of Premium Revenues	Recognition of Premium Revenues All of the property and casualty policies written by our insurance companies are considered short-duration contracts. These policies are earned on a daily pro-rata basis, net of reinsurance, over the term of the policy, which are six or twelve months in duration. The portion of premiums written that relate to the unexpired terms of policies in force are deferred and reported as unearned premium at the balance sheet date. Premiums on reinsured business are accounted for on a basis consistent with that used in accounting for the original policies issued and terms of the reinsurance contracts.
Reinsurance	Reinsurance Reinsurance premiums, commissions, losses and loss adjustment expenses ("LAE") on reinsured business are accounted for on a basis consistent with that used in accounting for the original policies issued and the terms of the reinsurance contracts. The amounts reported as reinsurance recoverables include amounts billed to reinsurers on losses and LAE paid as well as estimates of amounts expected to be recovered from reinsurers on insurance liabilities that have not yet been paid. Reinsurance recoverables on unpaid losses and LAE are estimated based upon assumptions consistent with those used in establishing those gross liabilities as they are applied to the underlying reinsured contracts. The Company records an allowance for uncollectible reinsurance recoverables based on an assessment of the reinsurer’s creditworthiness and collectability of the recorded amounts. Management believes an allowance for uncollectible recoverable from its reinsurers was not necessary for the periods presented. The Company receives ceding commissions in connection with certain ceded reinsurance. The ceding commissions are recorded as a reduction of operating expenses. In 2017, the Company entered into an adverse development cover reinsurance agreement (the "ADC"). The ADC is a retroactive reinsurance contract. If the cumulative claim and allocated claim adjustment expenses ceded under the ADC exceed the consideration paid, the resulting gain from such excess is deferred and amortized into earnings in future periods in proportion to actual recoveries under the ADC. In any period in which there is a gain position and a revised estimate of claim and allocated claim adjustment expenses, a portion of the deferred gain is cumulatively recognized in earnings as if the revised estimate was available at the inception date of the ADC.
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs	Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs Costs incurred which are incremental and directly related to the successful acquisition of new or renewal insurance business is deferred. These deferred costs consist of commissions paid to agents, premium taxes, and underwriting costs, including compensation and payroll related benefits. Proceeds from reinsurance transactions that represent recovery of acquisition costs reduce applicable unamortized acquisition costs in such a manner that net acquisition costs are capitalized and charged to expense. Amortization of such policy acquisition costs is charged to expense in proportion to premium earned over the estimated policy term. To the extent that unearned premiums on existing policies are not adequate to cover the sum of expected losses and LAE, unamortized acquisition costs and policy maintenance costs, unamortized deferred policy acquisition costs are charged to expense to the extent required to eliminate the premium deficiency. If the premium deficiency is greater than the unamortized policy acquisition costs, a liability is recorded for any such deficiency. The Company considers anticipated investment income in determining whether a premium deficiency exists. Management performs this evaluation at each insurance product line level.
Unpaid Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses	Unpaid Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses The liability for unpaid losses and LAE in the consolidated balance sheets represents the Company’s estimate of the amount it expects to pay for the ultimate cost of all losses and LAE incurred that remain unpaid at the balance sheet date. The liability is recorded on an undiscounted basis, except for the liability for unpaid losses and LAE assumed related to acquired companies which are initially recorded at fair value. The process of estimating the liability for unpaid losses and LAE is a complex process that requires a high degree of judgment. The liability for unpaid losses and LAE represent the accumulation of individual case estimates for reported losses and LAE, and actuarially determined estimates for incurred but not reported losses and LAE. The liability for unpaid losses and LAE is intended to include the ultimate net cost of all losses and LAE incurred but unpaid as of the balance sheet date. The liability is stated net of anticipated deductibles, salvage and subrogation, and gross of reinsurance ceded. The estimate of the unpaid losses and LAE liability is continually reviewed and updated. Although management believes the liability for losses and LAE is reasonable, the ultimate liability may be more or less than the current estimate. The estimation of ultimate liability for unpaid losses and LAE is a complex, imprecise and inherently uncertain process, and therefore involves a considerable degree of judgment and expertise. The Company utilizes various actuarially‑accepted reserving methodologies in deriving the continuum of expected outcomes and ultimately determining its estimated liability amount. These methodologies utilize various inputs, including but not limited to written and earned premiums, paid and reported losses and LAE, expected initial loss and LAE ratio, which is the ratio of incurred losses and LAE to earned premiums, and expected claim reporting and payout patterns (including company-specific and industry data). The liability for unpaid loss and LAE does not represent an exact measurement of liability, but is an estimate that is not directly or precisely quantifiable, particularly on a prospective basis, and is subject to a significant degree of variability over time. In addition, the establishment of the liability for unpaid losses and LAE makes no provision for the broadening of coverage by legislative action or judicial interpretation or for the extraordinary future emergence of new types of losses not sufficiently represented in the Company’s historical experience or which cannot yet be quantified. As a result, an integral component of estimating the liability for unpaid losses and LAE is the use of informed subjective estimates and judgments about the ultimate exposure to unpaid losses and LAE. The effects of changes in the estimated liability are included in the results of operations in the period in which the estimates are revised. The Company allocates the applicable portion of the unpaid losses and LAE to amounts recoverable from reinsurers under reinsurance contracts and reports those amounts separately as assets on the consolidated balance sheets.
Income Taxes	Income Taxes Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. Deferred tax assets are recognized to the extent that there is sufficient positive evidence, as allowed under the Accounting Standard Codification ("ASC") 740, Income Taxes, to support the recoverability of those deferred tax assets. The Company establishes a valuation allowance to the extent that there is insufficient evidence to support the recoverability of the deferred tax asset under ASC 740. In making such a determination, management considers all available positive and negative evidence, including future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, projected future taxable income, tax‑planning strategies, and results of recent operations. If it is determined that the deferred tax assets would be realizable in the future in excess of their net recorded amount, an adjustment would be made to the deferred tax asset valuation allowance, which would reduce the provision for income taxes.
Other Income	Other Income Other income consists primarily of fees charged to policyholders by the Company for services outside of the premium charge, such as installment billings or policy issuance costs. Commission income is also received by the Company’s insurance agencies for writing policies for third party insurance companies. The Company recognizes commission income on the later of the effective date of the policy, the date when the premium can be reasonably established, or the date when substantially all services related to the insurance placement have been rendered.
Operating Expenses	Operating Expenses Operating expenses consist primarily of other underwriting, compensation and benefits, information technology, facility and other administrative expenses.
Recently Issued Accounting Guidance	Recently Issued Accounting Guidance In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01, Financial Instruments-Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. The amendments in this update modify the requirements related to the measurement of certain financial instruments in the statement of financial condition and results of operation. For equity investments (other than investments accounted for using the equity method), entities must measure such instruments at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income. Reporting entities may continue to elect to measure equity investments which do not have a readily determinable fair value at cost with adjustments for impairment and observable changes in price. In addition, for a liability (other than a derivative liability) that an entity measures at fair value, any change in fair value related to the instrument-specific credit risk, that is the entity’s own-credit, should be presented separately in other comprehensive income and not as a component of net income. The amendments are effective for the Company on January 1, 2018, with early adoption permitted solely for the instrument-specific credit risk for liabilities measured at fair value. The amendments must be applied on a modified retrospective basis with a cumulative effect adjustment as of the beginning of the fiscal year of initial adoption. For the year ended December 31, 2017, other comprehensive income includes $1.1 million of net unrealized gains on equity securities. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which addresses the financial reporting of leasing transactions. This update will require the recognition of a right-of-use asset and a corresponding lease liability, discounted to the present value, for all leases that extend beyond 12 months. For operating leases, the asset and liability will be expensed over the lease term on a straight-line basis, with all cash flows included in the operating section of the consolidated statement of cash flows. For finance leases, interest on the lease liability will be recognized separately from the amortization of the right-of-use asset in the consolidated statement of operations and the repayment of the principal portion of the lease liability will be classified as a financing activity while the interest component will be included in the operating section of the consolidated statement of cash flows. This ASU is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. Management is currently evaluating the impact of the guidance. In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326), which amends the current methodology and timing for recognizing credit losses. This amendment will replace the current GAAP "incurred loss" methodology for credit losses with a methodology based on expected credit losses. The new guidance will also require expanded consideration of a broader range of reasonable and increased supportable information for the credit loss estimates. This ASU is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for years beginning after December 15, 2018. Management is currently evaluating the impact of the guidance. In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230), which clarifies how certain cash receipts and cash payments should be presented and classified in the statement of cash flows under Topic 230, Statement of Cash Flows. This update addresses eight specific cash flow issues with the objective of reducing the existing diversity in practice. This ASU is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted. This guidance is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated statement of cash flows. In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-02, Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220), Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (“ASU 2018-02”), which provides guidance on adjusting the impact of “stranded tax effects” in accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) due to the U.S. federal government enacting H.R.1, “An Act to Provide for Reconciliation Pursuant to Titles II and V of the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2018” (the “Act”) on December 22, 2017 (see Note 8). Prior to ASU 2018-02, the tax effect of unrealized gains and losses were valued at 34% and included in AOCI. When the Act was signed into law on December 22, 2017, it required companies to re-value the tax effect of all unrealized gains and losses using the new federal statutory rate of 21% with the resulting change recorded in the current income tax provision thus creating a “stranded tax effect.” ASU 2018-02 allows companies to early adopt the standard for year ends prior to December 15, 2018, but is not required. The standard would allow companies to make a one-time reclassification from AOCI to retained earnings for the stranded tax effects previously noted and requires certain other disclosures. The Company has not elected to early adopt this standard as of December 31, 2017.