Business and Risks (Narrative) (Detail) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			12 Months Ended							12 Months Ended		0 Months Ended			0 Months Ended					0 Months Ended		0 Months Ended			0 Months Ended
	May 07, 2013 numberofinstitutions	Dec. 31, 2013 segments	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013 SubsequentEvent [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Mbia Inc [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Mbia Inc [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Mbia Inc General Corporate Purposes [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Mbia Inc General Corporate Purposes [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Asset Liability Products Segment [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Asset Liability Products Segment [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Mbia Corp [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 National [Member]	May 06, 2013 Bank Of America [Member]	May 06, 2013 Blue Ridge [Member]	Nov. 30, 2013 Blue Ridge [Member]	May 07, 2013 Societe Generale [Member]	May 02, 2013 Flagstar Bank [Member]	Aug. 05, 2013 Warburg Pincus [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Amount Outstanding [Member]	May 06, 2013 Amount Outstanding Before Bofa Settlement [Member]	May 06, 2013 Cash [Member] Bank Of America [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 MBIA Inc Senior Notes [Member]	May 06, 2013 MBIA Inc Senior Notes [Member] Bank Of America [Member]	Aug. 05, 2013 Warrant [Member] Warburg Pincus [Member]	Dec. 31, 2008 Warrant [Member] Warburg Pincus [Member]	Aug. 05, 2013 Grossup Warrant [Member] Warburg Pincus [Member]	May 06, 2013 CMBS Pool Insured Gross Par [Member] Bank Of America [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of operating segments		3
Severance costs		$ 18,000,000
Headcount reduction percentage				21.00%
Impairment of real estate													29,000,000
Litigation settlement expense		97,000,000
Proceeds from legal settlements														1,700,000,000				110,000,000				1,600,000,000		136,000,000
MBIA debt coupon rate																							5.70%
Warrant term															5 years												5 years
Warrants outstanding															9,940,000				1,910,000						11,800,000	11,500,000	1,910,000
Warrant exercise price															9.59				9.59						29.44	30.25	9.59
Settlement without prejudice term														1 year
Line of credit maximum amount															500,000,000
Line of credit amount outstanding																70,000,000
Line of credit term															3 years
National secured loan																				1,700,000,000	1,600,000,000
Number of resolved Article 78 plaintiffs	18
Dividends from subsidiaries												0	214,000,000
Liquid assets						359,000,000	239,000,000	307,000,000	170,000,000	52,000,000	69,000,000
Amount released from tax escrow account		115,000,000			160,000,000
Commuted gross insured exposure		20,000,000,000	13,400,000,000		3,000,000,000									7,400,000,000			4,200,000,000											6,100,000,000
Consideration for warrants issued in shares																											540,000
Consideration for warrants issued amount																											$ 7,000,000