Condensed Statements of Operations (unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Net revenues	$ 26,351	$ 14,446
Cost of revenues	18,691	8,759
Gross margin	7,660	5,687
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative	5,593	4,636
Amortization of intangibles	2,400	813
Total operating expenses	7,993	5,449
(Loss) income from continuing operations	(333)	238
Interest and other income (expense), net	1,674	(220)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	1,341	18
Benefit from (provision for) income taxes	1,633	(138)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	2,974	(120)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes		(2,348)
Net income (loss)	2,974	(2,468)
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated entities
Continuing operations	(336)
Discontinued operations		(580)
	(336)	(580)
Net income (loss) attributable to Steel Excel Inc.	$ 3,310	$ (1,888)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.23	$ (0.01)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes (in Dollars per share)		$ (0.22)
Net income (loss) attributable to Steel Excel Inc. (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.26	$ (0.17)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.23	$ (0.01)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes (in Dollars per share)		$ (0.22)
Net income (loss) attributable to Steel Excel Inc. (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.26	$ (0.17)
Basic (in Shares)	12,886	10,891
Diluted (in Shares)	12,909	10,891