Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net revenues	$ 120,028	$ 100,104	$ 2,502
Cost of revenues	85,385	66,064	1,459
Gross profit	34,643	34,040	1,043
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative expenses	23,372	20,397	9,505
Amortization of intangibles	8,709	7,634	49
Impairment of goodwill	0	192	0
Total operating expenses	32,081	28,223	9,554
Operating income	2,562	5,817	(8,511)
Interest income, net	3,079	1,486	4,083
Other income (expense), net	1,408	(836)	4,270
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	7,049	6,467	(158)
Benefit from income taxes	9,342	15,712	226
Net income from continuing operations	16,391	22,179	68
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(5,540)	(1,935)	6,629
Net income	10,851	20,244	6,697
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated entities
Continuing operations	156	22	0
Discontinued operations	3,188	427	72
Net income attributable to Steel Excel Inc.	$ 14,195	$ 20,693	$ 6,769
Basic income (loss) per share attributable to Steel Excel Inc.:
Net income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.31	$ 1.83	$ 0.01
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes (in dollars per share)	$ (0.19)	$ (0.12)	$ 0.62
Net income (in dollars per share)	$ 1.13	$ 1.71	$ 0.62
Diluted income (loss) per share attributable to Steel Excel Inc.:
Net income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.31	$ 1.83	$ 0.01
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes (in dollars per share)	$ (0.19)	$ (0.12)	$ 0.61
Net income (in dollars per share)	$ 1.13	$ 1.71	$ 0.62
Shares used in computing income (loss) per share:
Basic (in Shares)	12,584	12,110	10,882
Diluted (in Shares)	12,602	12,133	10,897