Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net revenues	$ 51,924	$ 28,761	$ 97,083	$ 55,112
Cost of revenues	36,186	20,056	70,496	38,721
Gross profit	15,738	8,705	26,587	16,391
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative expenses	9,282	5,746	17,544	11,058
Amortization of intangibles	2,433	2,231	5,074	4,631
Total operating expenses	11,715	7,977	22,618	15,689
Operating income	4,023	728	3,969	702
Interest income, net	488	1,246	1,209	1,869
Other income (expense), net	654	(1,278)	3,582	(139)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity method income	5,165	696	8,760	2,432
Benefit from income taxes	693	384	2,596	2,017
Income from equity method investees, net of taxes	2,874	0	1,441	0
Net income from continuing operations	8,732	1,080	12,797	4,449
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes	0	(194)	0	(589)
Net income	8,732	886	12,797	3,860
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated entities
Continuing operations	11	36	337	56
Discontinued operations	0	149	0	465
Net income attributable to Steel Excel Inc.	$ 8,743	$ 1,071	$ 13,134	$ 4,381
Basic income (loss) per share attributable to Steel Excel Inc.:
Net income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.74	$ 0.09	$ 1.10	$ 0.35
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ (0.01)
Net income (in dollars per share)	$ 0.74	$ 0.08	$ 1.10	$ 0.34
Diluted income (loss) per share attributable to Steel Excel Inc.:
Net income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.73	$ 0.09	$ 1.10	$ 0.35
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ (0.01)
Net income (in dollars per share)	$ 0.73	$ 0.08	$ 1.10	$ 0.34
Shares used in computing income (loss) per share:
Basic (in Shares)	11,895	12,718	11,938	12,796
Diluted (in Shares)	11,917	12,734	11,958	12,812