Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data	Total	Common stock	Additional paid-in capital	Retained earnings	Accumulated other comprehensive income
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2009		$ 103	$ 107,269	$ 143,743	$ 25,665
Balance at beginning of period, shares at Dec. 31, 2009		10,323,875
Issuance of common shares		1	959
Issuance of common shares, shares		235,266
Repurchase of common shares			(2,735)
Repurchase of common shares, shares		(172,622)
Share based compensation			2,058
Net earnings	29,951			29,951
Unrealized gain during the period (net of deferred tax expense of $585, $4,081 and $2,068, respectively)	12,791				12,791
Less: Retained earnings (deficit) attributable to non-controlling interest			4,783	(634)	328
Total shareholders' equity of American Safety Insurance Holdings, Ltd.	315,328		102,768	174,328	38,128
Balance at end of period at Dec. 31, 2010	318,535	104	107,551	173,694	38,456
Balance at end of period, shares at Dec. 31, 2010		10,386,519
Issuance of common shares		2	614
Issuance of common shares, shares		179,608
Repurchase of common shares		(4)	(7,306)
Repurchase of common shares, shares		(356,708)
Share based compensation			2,318
Net earnings	14,124			14,124
Unrealized gain during the period (net of deferred tax expense of $585, $4,081 and $2,068, respectively)	6,392				6,392
Less: Retained earnings (deficit) attributable to non-controlling interest	6,592		4,783	2,642	432
Total shareholders' equity of American Safety Insurance Holdings, Ltd.	328,088		98,394	185,176	44,416
Balance at end of period at Dec. 31, 2011	334,680	102	103,177	187,818	44,848
Balance at end of period, shares at Dec. 31, 2011		10,209,419
Issuance of common shares		1	96
Issuance of common shares, shares		79,523
Repurchase of common shares		(8)	(13,948)
Repurchase of common shares, shares		(783,036)
Share based compensation			2,059
Net earnings	13,108			13,108
Unrealized gain during the period (net of deferred tax expense of $585, $4,081 and $2,068, respectively)	9,090				9,090
Less: Retained earnings (deficit) attributable to non-controlling interest	7,742		4,816	3,911	310
Total shareholders' equity of American Safety Insurance Holdings, Ltd.	337,306		86,568	197,015	53,628
Balance at end of period at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 345,048	$ 95	$ 91,384	$ 200,926	$ 53,938
Balance at end of period, shares at Dec. 31, 2012		9,505,906