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		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Numerators:
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	$ (945)	$ 3,047	$ 11,852	$ 7,496
Non-controlling interest	(238)	(178)	99	(122)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Steel Excel Inc.	(1,183)	2,869	11,951	7,374
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes	0	(888)	0	(1,477)
Non-controlling interest	0	489	0	954
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes, attributable to Steel Excel Inc.	0	(399)	0	(523)
Net income (loss) attributable to Steel Excel Inc.	$ (1,183)	$ 2,470	$ 11,951	$ 6,851
Denominators:
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding (in Shares)	11,437	12,529	11,769	12,736
Effect of dilutive securities:
Stock-based awards (in Shares)	0	17	21	18
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding (in Shares)	11,437	12,546	11,790	12,754
Basic income (loss) per share attributable to Steel Excel Inc.:
Net income (loss) from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.10)	$ 0.23	$ 1.02	$ 0.58
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00	$ (0.03)	$ 0.00	$ (0.04)
Net income (loss) (in dollars per share)	$ (0.10)	$ 0.20	$ 1.02	$ 0.54
Diluted income (loss) per share attributable to Steel Excel Inc.:
Net income (loss) from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.10)	$ 0.23	$ 1.01	$ 0.58
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00	$ (0.03)	$ 0.00	$ (0.04)
Net income (loss) (in dollars per share)	$ (0.10)	$ 0.20	$ 1.01	$ 0.54
Antidilutive securities excluded (in shares)	(23)