Consolidated Statement Of Changes In Shareholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total	Total Shareholders' Equity Of MBIA Inc. [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid In Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Preferred Stock [Member]	Preferred Stock Of Subsidiary And Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 3,194	$ 3,173	$ 277	$ 3,076	$ 2,039	$ 56	$ (2,275)		$ 21
Balance (in common stock shares) at Dec. 31, 2012			277,405,039				(81,733,530)
Balance (in preferred stock shares) at Dec. 31, 2012								1,315
Net income (loss)	250	250			250
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(142)	(142)				(142)
Share-based compensation, net of tax of $4, $2 and $9	4	4	$ 1	39			$ (36)
Share-based compensation (in shares)			407,391				(3,292,641)
Treasury shares acquired	(7)	(7)					$ (7)
Treasury shares acquired (in shares)							(536,375)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	3,299	3,278	$ 278	3,115	2,289	(86)	$ (2,318)		21
Balance (in common stock shares) at Dec. 31, 2013			277,812,430				(85,562,546)
Balance (in preferred stock shares) at Dec. 31, 2013								1,315
Net income (loss)	569	569			569
Other comprehensive income (loss)	107	107				107
Share-based compensation, net of tax of $4, $2 and $9	10	10	$ 3	13			$ (6)
Share-based compensation (in shares)			3,540,352				(513,267)
Treasury shares acquired	$ (35)	(35)					$ (35)
Treasury shares acquired (in shares)	(3,300,000)						(3,334,074)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 3,950	3,929	$ 281	3,128	2,858	21	$ (2,359)		21
Balance (in common stock shares) at Dec. 31, 2014	281,352,782		281,352,782				(89,409,887)
Balance (in preferred stock shares) at Dec. 31, 2014	0							1,315
ASU 2015-02 transition adjustment	$ (9)								(9)
Net income (loss)	180	180			180
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(82)	(82)				(82)
Share-based compensation, net of tax of $4, $2 and $9	5	5	$ 1	10			$ (6)
Share-based compensation (in shares)			480,836				(986,455)
Treasury shares acquired	$ (303)	(303)					$ (303)
Treasury shares acquired (in shares)	(39,900,000)						(39,906,899)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 3,741	$ 3,729	$ 282	$ 3,138	$ 3,038	$ (61)	$ (2,668)		$ 12
Balance (in common stock shares) at Dec. 31, 2015	281,833,618		281,833,618				(130,303,241)
Balance (in preferred stock shares) at Dec. 31, 2015	0							1,315