Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income (loss)		$ (10,463)	$ 7,657	$ (18,076)	$ 9,624
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustment		(3)	14	(1)	14
Reclassification to realized gains		0	0	0	0
Net foreign currency translation adjustment	[1]	(3)	14	(1)	14
Gross unrealized gains on marketable securities, net of tax	[2]	1,950	3,395	3,064	11,418
Reclassification to realized losses (gains), net of tax	[3]	12,239	(505)	12,054	(2,439)
Net unrealized gain on marketable securities, net of tax		14,189	2,890	15,118	8,979
Comprehensive income (loss)		3,723	10,561	(2,959)	18,617
Comprehensive loss (income) attributable to non-controlling interest		(73)	11	290	337
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Steel Excel Inc.		3,650	10,572	(2,669)	18,954
Tax provision on gross unrealized gains		(1,159)	0	(1,707)	0
Tax benefit on reclassifications to realized gains (losses)		$ (6,809)	$ 0	$ (6,718)	$ 0

[1] No tax effect on cumulative translation adjustments

[2] Tax provision on gross unrealized gains: $(1,159) $0 $(1,707) $0

[3] Tax benefit on reclassifications to realized gains: $(6,809) $0 $(6,718) $0