Document and Entity Information - shares	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Aug. 01, 2016
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	BALDWIN & LYONS INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000009346
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Information [Line Items]
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2016
Class A (voting) [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		2,623,109
Class B (nonvoting) [Member]
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		12,460,900