Fair Value Of Financial Instruments (Difference Between Aggregate Fair Value And Aggregate Remaining Contractual Principal Balance Outstanding) (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Schedule of Fair Value of Separate Accounts by Major Category of Investment [Line Items]
Loans receivable, Contractual Outstanding Principal	$ 2,682	$ 2,770
Variable interest entity notes, Contractual Outstanding Principal	8,813	9,021
Loans receivable, Fair Value	1,819	1,881
Variable interest entity notes, Fair Value	3,578	3,659
Loans receivable, Difference	863	889
Variable interest entity notes, Difference	5,235	5,362
Residential Mortgage Loans [Member]
Schedule of Fair Value of Separate Accounts by Major Category of Investment [Line Items]
Loans receivable, Contractual Outstanding Principal	2,220	2,307
Loans receivable, 90 days or more past due, Contractual Outstanding Principal	244	244
Loans receivable, Fair Value	1,660	1,735
Loans receivable, 90 days or more past due, Fair Value	54	54
Loans receivable, Difference	560	572
Loans receivable, 90 days or more past due, Difference	190	190
Other Loans [Member]
Schedule of Fair Value of Separate Accounts by Major Category of Investment [Line Items]
Loans receivable, Contractual Outstanding Principal	22	22
Loans receivable, 90 days or more past due, Contractual Outstanding Principal	196	197
Loans receivable, Fair Value	11	22
Loans receivable, 90 days or more past due, Fair Value	94	70
Loans receivable, Difference	11
Loans receivable, 90 days or more past due, Difference	$ 102	$ 127

Fair Value Option Aggregate Fair Value Loans Receivable

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- Definition

Fair Value Option Aggregate Fair Value Long Term Debt Instruments

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Fair Value Option Contractual Outstanding Principal Loans Receivable

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Fair Value Option Contractual Outstanding Principal Long Term Debt Instruments

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	mbi_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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- Definition

This item represents the difference between the aggregate fair value and the aggregate unpaid principal balance of loans and long-term receivables (other than securities categorized as trading, available-for-sale or held-to-maturity) that have contractual principal amounts and for which the fair value option has been elected.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (d)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6957238&loc=d3e14064-108612

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 159

-Paragraph 18

-Subparagraph d(1)

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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- Definition

This item represents the difference between the aggregate fair value and the aggregate unpaid principal balance of long-term debt instruments that have contractual principal amounts and for which the fair value option has been elected.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (d)(2)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6957238&loc=d3e14064-108612

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 159

-Paragraph 18

-Subparagraph d(2)

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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- Definition

This item represents the aggregate fair value of loans held as assets that are 90 days or more past due for which the fair value option has been elected.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (e)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6957238&loc=d3e14064-108612

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 159

-Paragraph 18

-Subparagraph e(1)

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

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- Definition

For loans held as assets for which the fair value option has been elected, this item represents the difference between the aggregate fair value and the aggregate unpaid principal balance of those loans that are 90 days or more past due.

+ References

+ Details

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- Definition

This item represents the aggregate fair value of loans held as assets that are in nonaccrual status for which the fair value option has been elected, if the entity's policy is to recognize interest income separately from other changes in fair value.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (e)(2)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6957238&loc=d3e14064-108612

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 159

-Paragraph 18

-Subparagraph e(2)

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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