Document And Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Mar. 13, 2012	Jul. 01, 2011
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	Steel Excel Inc.
Document Type	10-K
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		10,891,829
Entity Public Float			$ 209,300,000
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Central Index Key	0000709804
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2011
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2011
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY