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Income Taxes (Income Tax Rate Reconciliation) (Detail)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Effective income tax rate continuing operations tax rate reconciliation [Abstract]      
Federal income tax computed at the statutory rate 35.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate 35.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate 35.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate
Increase (reduction) in taxes resulting from: [Abstract]      
Tax-exempt interest (0.50%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxExemptIncome (1.10%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxExemptIncome (0.70%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxExemptIncome
Mark-to-market on warrants (1.60%)mbi_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationMarkToMarketOnWarrants 3.80%mbi_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationMarkToMarketOnWarrants (0.70%)mbi_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationMarkToMarketOnWarrants
Change in valuation allowance (13.50%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance (12.60%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance (5.60%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance
Change in uncertain tax positions (9.10%)mbi_EffectiveIncomeTaxrateReconciliationUncertainTaxPositions 2.80%mbi_EffectiveIncomeTaxrateReconciliationUncertainTaxPositions (0.10%)mbi_EffectiveIncomeTaxrateReconciliationUncertainTaxPositions
State income tax, net of federal benefit 0.50%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes 2.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes 0.10%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes
Out-of-period adjustment 0.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationPriorYearIncomeTaxes 0.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationPriorYearIncomeTaxes (3.80%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationPriorYearIncomeTaxes
Foreign taxes (0.50%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential (0.80%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential (1.20%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential
Basis difference in foreign subsidiary 0.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationRepatriationOfForeignEarnings 11.40%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationRepatriationOfForeignEarnings 0.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationRepatriationOfForeignEarnings
Other 0.90%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments (0.60%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments (0.20%)us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments
Effective tax rate 11.20%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations 39.90%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations 22.80%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations