Consolidated Statement Of Changes In Shareholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total	Preferred Stock Of Subsidiary And Noncontrolling Interest [Member]	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]
Total equity balance at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 3,299	$ 21	$ 3,278	$ 278	$ 3,115	$ 2,289	$ (86)	$ (2,318)
Balance (in common stock shares) at Dec. 31, 2013				277,812,430
Balance (in treasury stock shares) at Dec. 31, 2013								(85,562,546)
Balance (in preferred stock shares) at Dec. 31, 2013		1,315
Net income (loss)	569		569			569
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	107		107				107
Share-based compensation, net of tax of $2, $9 and $0	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)
Total equity balance at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 3,950	$ 21	3,929	$ 281	3,128	2,858	21	$ (2,359)
Balance (in common stock shares) at Dec. 31, 2014				281,352,782
Balance (in treasury stock shares) at Dec. 31, 2014								(89,409,887)
Balance (in preferred stock shares) at Dec. 31, 2014		1,315
ASU 2015-02 transition adjustment	(9)	$ (9)
Net income (loss)	180		180			180
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	(82)		(82)				(82)
Share-based compensation, net of tax of $2, $9 and $0	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)
Total equity balance at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 3,741	$ 12	3,729	$ 282	3,138	3,038	(61)	$ (2,668)
Balance (in common stock shares) at Dec. 31, 2015	281,833,618			281,833,618
Balance (in treasury stock shares) at Dec. 31, 2015	(130,303,241)							(130,303,241)
Balance (in preferred stock shares) at Dec. 31, 2015	0	1,315
Net income (loss)	$ (338)		(338)			(338)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	(67)		(67)				(67)
Share-based compensation, net of tax of $2, $9 and $0	8		8	$ 2	22			$ (16)
Share-based compensation (in shares)				2,156,381				(1,925,990)
Treasury shares acquired	$ (105)		(105)					$ (105)
Treasury shares acquired (in shares)	(16,600,000)							(16,559,937)
Total equity balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 3,239	$ 12	$ 3,227	$ 284	$ 3,160	$ 2,700	$ (128)	$ (2,789)
Balance (in common stock shares) at Dec. 31, 2016	283,989,999			283,989,999
Balance (in treasury stock shares) at Dec. 31, 2016	(148,789,168)							(148,789,168)
Balance (in preferred stock shares) at Dec. 31, 2016	0	1,315