Schedule II - Condensed Financial Information of Registrant - Statement of Income and Comprehensive Income (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Condensed Financial Statements Captions [Line Items]
Net investment income									$ 957,716,000	$ 1,012,348,000	$ 1,137,769,000
Total revenues									7,541,234,000	7,232,397,000	6,696,803,000
Operating expenses									1,213,178,000	1,173,955,000	1,083,917,000
Foreign exchange (gains) losses									(28,243,000)	10,545,000	(40,640,000)
Interest expense									155,462,000	172,204,000	205,592,000
Total expenses									6,446,886,000	6,521,873,000	7,117,765,000
Provision for income tax									(77,505,000)	(34,028,000)	(59,707,000)
Net income (loss) attributable to ordinary shareholders									1,059,916,000	651,128,000	(474,760,000)
Net income (loss)	300,780,000	135,648,000	272,698,000	350,790,000	81,444,000	171,902,000	221,154,000	176,628,000
Change in OTTI losses recognized in other comprehensive income, net of tax									32,181,000	67,280,000	39,456,000
Change in underfunded pension liability									11,162,000	(9,985,000)	(2,622,000)
Change in value of cash flow hedge									439,000	439,000	440,000
Foreign currency translation adjustments									(54,858,000)	(8,156,000)	(26,700,000)
Comprehensive income (loss)									276,553,000	1,588,083,000	7,510,000
XL Group PLC
Condensed Financial Statements Captions [Line Items]
Net investment income									24,000	5,000	2,000
Total revenues									24,000	5,000	2,000
Operating expenses									11,699,000	10,971,000	74,422,000
Foreign exchange (gains) losses									243,000	165,000	(275,000)
Interest expense									2,000	15,000	3,000
Total expenses									11,944,000	11,151,000	74,150,000
Income (loss) before income tax									(11,920,000)	(11,146,000)	(74,148,000)
Equity in net earnings (losses) of subsidiaries (dividends were: 2013: $617,719; 2012: nil; 2011: $183,029)									1,071,836,000	662,274,000	(400,612,000)
Provision for income tax									0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to ordinary shareholders									1,059,916,000	651,128,000	(474,760,000)
Net income (loss)									1,059,916,000	651,128,000	(474,760,000)
Change in net unrealized gains (losses) on investments, net of tax									(772,287,000)	887,377,000	471,696,000
Change in OTTI losses recognized in other comprehensive income, net of tax									32,181,000	67,280,000	39,456,000
Change in underfunded pension liability									11,162,000	(9,985,000)	(2,622,000)
Change in value of cash flow hedge									439,000	439,000	440,000
Foreign currency translation adjustments									(54,858,000)	(8,156,000)	(26,700,000)
Comprehensive income (loss)									276,553,000	1,588,083,000	7,510,000
Parenthetical information, dividends:
Dividends received from subsidiaries									617,719,000	0	183,029,000
Dividends and/ or returns of capital received from XLIT									$ 702,000,000	$ 342,000,000	$ 455,000,000