Net Income (Loss) Per Share - Reconciliation of the numerator and denominator of the basic and diluted net (loss) income per share (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Numerators:
Net income from continuing operations	$ 4,065	$ 3,369
Non-controlling interest	326	20
Net income from continuing operations attributable to Steel Excel Inc.	4,391	3,389
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes	0	(395)
Non-controlling interest	0	316
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes, attributable to Steel Excel Inc.	0	(79)
Net income attributable to Steel Excel Inc.	$ 4,391	$ 3,310
Denominators:
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding (in Shares)	11,981	12,886
Effect of dilutive securities:
Stock-based awards (in Shares)	18	23
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding (in Shares)	11,999	12,909
Basic income (loss) per share attributable to Steel Excel Inc.:
Net income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.37	$ 0.26
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00	$ (0.01)
Net income (in dollars per share)	$ 0.37	$ 0.26
Diluted income (loss) per share attributable to Steel Excel Inc.:
Net income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.37	$ 0.26
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00	$ (0.01)
Net income (in dollars per share)	$ 0.37	$ 0.26