Reconciliation of Earnings and Share Data used in Basic and Diluted Earnings per Share Computations (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Earnings Per Share Disclosure [Line Items]
Net earnings available to Alleghany stockholders	$ 149,176	$ 154,505
Effect of dilutive securities		(400)
Income available to common stockholders for diluted earnings per share	$ 149,200	$ 154,100
Weighted average common shares outstanding applicable to basic earnings per share	15,413,698	15,452,191
Effect of dilutive securities	6,770	12,298
Adjusted weighted average common shares outstanding applicable to diluted earnings per share	15,420,468	15,464,489

Amount of increase (decrease) to net income used for calculating diluted earnings per share (EPS), resulting from the assumed exercise stock options, restrictive stock units (RSUs), convertible preferred stock of an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), and other dilutive convertible securities.

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The portion of profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, which is attributable to the parent.

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Net Income or Loss Available to Common Stockholders plus adjustments resulting from the assumption that dilutive convertible securities were converted, options or warrants were exercised, or that other shares were issued upon the satisfaction of certain conditions.

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The sum of dilutive potential common shares or units used in the calculation of the diluted per-share or per-unit computation.

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The average number of shares or units issued and outstanding that are used in calculating diluted EPS or earnings per unit (EPU), determined based on the timing of issuance of shares or units in the period.

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Number of [basic] shares or units, after adjustment for contingently issuable shares or units and other shares or units not deemed outstanding, determined by relating the portion of time within a reporting period that common shares or units have been outstanding to the total time in that period.

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Earnings Per Share Disclosure [Line Items]

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