Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Consolidated Statements of Operations [Abstract]
Net revenues	$ 31,845	$ 34,293	$ 87,571	$ 73,189
Cost of revenues	23,406	22,089	62,209	45,817
Gross profit	8,439	12,204	25,362	27,372
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative expenses	6,393	6,282	18,568	16,038
Amortization of intangibles	1,985	2,635	6,616	5,028
Total operating expenses	8,378	8,917	25,184	21,066
Operating income	61	3,287	178	6,306
Interest income, net	472	81	2,341	572
Other income (expense), net	1,329	392	1,190	(81)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	1,862	3,760	3,709	6,797
Benefit from income taxes	297	1,105	2,310	15,378
Net income from continuing operations	2,159	4,865	6,019	22,175
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	0	484	0	(1,986)
Net income	2,159	5,349	6,019	20,189
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated entities
Continuing operations	311	0	832	0
Discontinued operations	0	0	0	580
Net income attributable to Steel Excel Inc.	$ 2,470	$ 5,349	$ 6,851	$ 20,769
Basic income (loss) per share attributable to Steel Excel Inc.:
Net income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.20	$ 0.37	$ 0.54	$ 1.88
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00	$ 0.04	$ 0.00	$ (0.12)
Net income (in dollars per share)	$ 0.20	$ 0.41	$ 0.54	$ 1.76
Diluted income (loss) per share attributable to Steel Excel Inc.:
Net income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.20	$ 0.37	$ 0.54	$ 1.87
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00	$ 0.04	$ 0.00	$ (0.12)
Net income (in dollars per share)	$ 0.20	$ 0.41	$ 0.54	$ 1.75
Shares used in computing income (loss) per share:
Basic (in Shares)	12,529	12,982	12,736	11,820
Diluted (in Shares)	12,546	13,001	12,754	11,840