Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net revenues	$ 35,610	$ 51,924	$ 74,495	$ 97,083
Cost of revenues	27,375	36,921	59,563	72,022
Gross profit	8,235	15,003	14,932	25,061
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative expenses	8,003	8,547	16,042	16,018
Amortization of intangibles	2,075	2,433	4,237	5,074
Total operating expenses	10,078	10,980	20,279	21,092
Operating income (loss)	(1,843)	4,023	(5,347)	3,969
Interest expense	(614)	(822)	(1,256)	(1,690)
Impairment of marketable securities	(22,740)	0	(22,740)	0
Other income (expense), net	3,001	1,964	1,272	6,481
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity method income	(22,196)	5,165	(28,071)	8,760
Benefit from (provision for) income taxes	6,288	(382)	6,660	(577)
Income from equity method investees, net of taxes	5,445	2,874	3,335	1,441
Net income (loss)	(10,463)	7,657	(18,076)	9,624
Net loss (income) attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated entities	(73)	11	290	337
Net income (loss) attributable to Steel Excel Inc.	$ (10,536)	$ 7,668	$ (17,786)	$ 9,961
Basic income (loss) per share attributable to Steel Excel Inc.:
Net income (loss) (in dollars per share)	$ (0.91)	$ 0.64	$ (1.54)	$ 0.83
Diluted income (loss) per share attributable to Steel Excel Inc.:
Net income (loss) (in dollars per share)	$ (0.91)	$ 0.64	$ (1.54)	$ 0.83
Shares used in computing income (loss) per share:
Basic (in Shares)	11,572	11,895	11,524	11,938
Diluted (in Shares)	11,572	11,917	11,524	11,958