Earnings per share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Numerator:
Net (loss) income attributable to Stewart	$ (13,467)	$ 23,717	$ (8,809)	$ 17,890
Interest expense, net of tax effects	0	314	0	941
If-converted net (loss) income attributable to Stewart	$ (13,467)	$ 24,031	$ (8,809)	$ 18,831
Denominator (000):
Basic average shares outstanding	23,286	22,267	23,631	22,416
Average number of dilutive shares relating to convertible senior notes	0	2,111	0	2,111
Diluted average shares outstanding	23,286	24,663	23,631	24,812
Basic (loss) earnings per share attributable to Stewart (usd per share)	$ (0.58)	$ 1.07	$ (0.37)	$ 0.80
Diluted (loss) earnings per share attributable to Stewart (usd per share)	$ (0.58)	$ 0.97	$ (0.37)	$ 0.76
Stock Option
Denominator (000):
Average number of dilutive shares relating to share-based payment arrangements	0	1	0	1
Restricted Stock
Denominator (000):
Average number of dilutive shares relating to share-based payment arrangements	0	284	0	284