Revised Financial Statements - Balance Sheet (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Common stock	$ 14	$ 14
Additional paid-in capital	269,750	267,444
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(6,532)	(15,206)
Retained earnings	154,376	186,636
Treasury stock, at cost	(85,967)	(81,355)
Total Steel Excel Inc. stockholders' equity	331,641	357,533
Non-controlling interest	(94)	(15)
Total stockholders' equity	$ 331,547	357,518
Valuation Allowance of Deferred Tax Assets
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Common stock		14
Additional paid-in capital		267,444
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(15,206)
Retained earnings		186,636
Treasury stock, at cost		(81,355)
Total Steel Excel Inc. stockholders' equity		357,533
Non-controlling interest		(15)
Total stockholders' equity		357,518
Valuation Allowance of Deferred Tax Assets | Previously Reported
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Common stock		14
Additional paid-in capital		267,444
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(18,730)
Retained earnings		190,160
Treasury stock, at cost		(81,355)
Total Steel Excel Inc. stockholders' equity		357,533
Non-controlling interest		(15)
Total stockholders' equity		357,518
Valuation Allowance of Deferred Tax Assets | Adjustments
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Common stock		0
Additional paid-in capital		0
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		3,524
Retained earnings		(3,524)
Treasury stock, at cost		0
Total Steel Excel Inc. stockholders' equity		0
Non-controlling interest		0
Total stockholders' equity		$ 0