Schedule I - Statements of Operations and Retained Earnings (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	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
Revenues
Investment income												$ 15,492		$ 13,809		$ 15,505
Other losses												(1,066)		7,578		2,302
Total revenues	450,211		536,835	517,220	423,714		520,972		520,741	483,712	384,987	1,927,980		1,910,412		1,634,906
Expenses
Employee costs												571,026		542,461		469,839
Other operating expenses, including $276, $305 and $177 to affiliates												280,258		286,496		256,194
Depreciation and amortization												17,920		17,783		19,542
Interest												2,956		5,235		5,268
Total expenses												1,826,915		1,821,074		1,616,887
Loss before taxes and earnings from subsidiaries												101,065		89,338		18,019
Income tax expense (benefit)												(28,481)		29,639		(9,341)
Net earnings attributable to Stewart	17,511		15,409	26,899	3,207		61,760		34,668	24,911	(12,157)	63,026		109,182		2,348
Retained earnings at beginning of year					391,447							391,447
Retained earnings at end of year	452,314						391,447					452,314		391,447
Stewart Information Services Corporation - Parent Company
Revenues
Investment income														579		74
Other losses												(3,164)		(3,358)		(3,770)
Other income												263		380		235
Total revenues												(2,901)		(2,399)		(3,461)
Expenses
Employee costs												(91)		5,192		2,168
Other operating expenses, including $276, $305 and $177 to affiliates												1,329		1,674		451
Depreciation and amortization												527		802		893
Interest												2,494		4,615		4,639
Total expenses												4,259		12,283		8,151
Loss before taxes and earnings from subsidiaries												(7,160)		(14,682)		(11,612)
Income tax expense (benefit)												24		34		79
Add earnings from subsidiaries												70,210		123,898		14,039
Net earnings attributable to Stewart												63,026		109,182		2,348
Retained earnings at beginning of year					391,447	[1]					284,097	391,447	[1]	284,097		282,666
Cash dividends on Common Stock ($0.10 per share in 2013 and 2012 and $0.05 per share in 2011)												(2,159)		(1,832)		(917)
Retained earnings at end of year	$ 452,314	[1]					$ 391,447	[1]				$ 452,314	[1]	$ 391,447	[1]	$ 284,097

[1] Includes undistributed earnings of subsidiaries of $534,494 in 2013 and $466,442 in 2012.