Schedule II - Condensed Financial Information of Registrant - Condensed Balance Sheets (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 1,800,832	$ 2,618,378	$ 3,825,125	$ 3,022,868
Other assets	693,810	582,765
Total assets	45,652,887	45,386,895
Liabilities:
Total liabilities	34,303,589	33,530,493
Shareholders' equity:
Ordinary shares, 999,990,000 authorized, par value $0.01; issued and outstanding (2013, 278,253,308; 2012, 298,681,573)	2,783	2,987
Additional paid in capital	7,994,100	8,584,752
Accumulated other comprehensive income	736,657	1,520,020	583,065	100,795
Retained earnings	1,264,093	402,318
Shareholders' equity attributable to XL Group plc	9,997,633	10,510,077
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	45,652,887	45,386,895
Parenthetical information:
Ordinary shares, shares authorized (in shares)	999,990,000	999,990,000
Ordinary shares, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Ordinary shares, shares issued (in shares)	278,253,308	298,681,573
Ordinary shares, shares outstanding (in shares)	278,253,308	298,681,573	315,646,000
XL Group PLC
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	12,709	10,961	1,644	2,816
Investments in subsidiaries on an equity basis	10,187,614	10,601,653
Other assets	3,014	3,241
Total assets	10,203,337	10,615,855
Liabilities:
Amounts due to subsidiaries	190,601	86,012
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	15,103	19,766
Total liabilities	205,704	105,778
Commitments and Contingencies
Shareholders' equity:
Ordinary shares, 999,990,000 authorized, par value $0.01; issued and outstanding (2013, 278,253,308; 2012, 298,681,573)	2,783	2,987
Additional paid in capital	7,994,100	8,584,752
Accumulated other comprehensive income	736,657	1,520,020
Retained earnings	1,264,093	402,318
Shareholders' equity attributable to XL Group plc	9,997,633	10,510,077
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ 10,203,337	$ 10,615,855
Parenthetical information:
Ordinary shares, shares authorized (in shares)	999,990,000	999,990,000
Ordinary shares, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Ordinary shares, shares issued (in shares)	278,253,308	298,681,573
Ordinary shares, shares outstanding (in shares)	278,253,308	298,681,573