Discontinued Operations (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Sale of Bank Subsidiary [Abstract]
Sale Proceeds			$ 1,000	$ 4,060
Gain (Loss)	(1,258)	0	(1,258)	126
Income Statement of Discontinued Operations [Abstract]
Interest income	13,470	18,113	27,971	37,101
Interest expense	1,895	5,544	4,062	12,061
Net interest income	11,575	12,569	23,909	25,040
Provision for loan losses			(12,766)	1,721
Net interest income after provision for loan losses	23,771	12,339	35,889	24,149
Noninterest income	2,984	3,466	6,725	6,621
Gain (Loss)	(1,258)	0	(1,258)	126
Noninterest expense	15,109	24,235	34,076	45,722
Less income tax expense	0	80	0	62
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	(1,912)	(1,497)	(1,778)	(3,251)
Net income from discontinued operations per common share attributable to Capitol Bancorp Limited	$ (0.04)	$ (0.03)	$ (0.04)	$ (0.05)
Assets of Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	259,350	304,183	259,350	304,183	289,734	319,453
Portfolio loans	905,728		905,728		1,109,668
Less allowance for loan losses	(37,204)		(37,204)		(56,616)
Net portfolio loans	868,524		868,524		1,053,052
Premises and equipment	17,195		17,195		19,028
Other real estate owned	50,298		50,298		69,050
Other assets	10,807		10,807		14,849
TOTAL ASSETS	1,232,700		1,232,700		1,621,302
Liabilities of Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation [Abstract]
Noninterest-bearing deposits	242,193		242,193		302,528
Interest-bearing deposits	918,818		918,818		1,101,324
Total deposits	1,161,011		1,161,011		1,403,852
Total liabilities	1,369,378		1,369,378		1,758,850
Discontinued Operations [Member]
Sale of Bank Subsidiary [Abstract]
Gain (Loss)	(1,258)	0	(1,258)	126
Income Statement of Discontinued Operations [Abstract]
Interest income	577	3,553	1,825	7,774
Interest expense	114	846	374	1,796
Net interest income	463	2,707	1,451	5,978
Provision for loan losses	0	165	(787)	830
Net interest income after provision for loan losses	463	2,542	2,238	5,148
Noninterest income	53	587	282	1,093
Gain (Loss)	(1,258)	0	(1,258)	126
Noninterest expense	1,170	4,546	3,040	9,556
Income (loss) before income taxes	(1,912)	(1,417)	(1,778)	(3,189)
Less income tax expense	0	80	0	62
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	(1,912)	(1,497)	(1,778)	(3,251)
Net (income) loss attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	264	363	327	1,095
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to Capitol Bancorp Limited	(1,648)	(1,134)	(1,451)	(2,156)
Net income from discontinued operations per common share attributable to Capitol Bancorp Limited	$ (0.04)	$ (0.03)	$ (0.04)	$ (0.05)
Assets of Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents					37,113
Investment securities					21
Federal Home Loan Bank stock					684
Portfolio loans					100,049
Less allowance for loan losses					(6,839)
Net portfolio loans					93,210
Premises and equipment					1,800
Other real estate owned					11,913
Other assets					1,739
TOTAL ASSETS					146,480
Liabilities of Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation [Abstract]
Noninterest-bearing deposits					20,883
Interest-bearing deposits					119,134
Total deposits					140,017
Other liabilities					3,318
Total liabilities					$ 143,335