Schedule I - Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Schedule Of Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets [Line Items]
Other	$ 55,737,000	$ 56,311,000
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	119,961,000	116,617,000
Treasury stock, common shares	352,161	352,161
Stewart Information Services Corporation - Parent Company
Schedule Of Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets [Line Items]
Other	138,000	43,000
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	24,665,000	30,346,000
Treasury stock, common shares	352,161	352,161
Undistributed earnings of subsidiaries	534,494	466,442
Common Stock
Schedule Of Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets [Line Items]
Common Stock, par value	$ 1	$ 1
Common stock, shares authorized	50,000,000	50,000,000
Common Stock, shares issued	21,803,179	18,705,914
Common Stock, shares outstanding	21,451,018	18,353,753
Common Stock | Stewart Information Services Corporation - Parent Company
Schedule Of Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets [Line Items]
Common Stock, par value	$ 1	$ 1
Common stock, shares authorized	50,000,000	50,000,000
Common Stock, shares issued	21,803,179	18,705,914
Common Stock, shares outstanding	21,451,018	18,353,753
Class B Common Stock
Schedule Of Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets [Line Items]
Common Stock, par value	$ 1	$ 1
Common stock, shares authorized	1,500,000	1,500,000
Common Stock, shares issued	1,050,012	1,050,012
Common Stock, shares outstanding	1,050,012	1,050,012
Class B Common Stock | Stewart Information Services Corporation - Parent Company
Schedule Of Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets [Line Items]
Common Stock, par value	$ 1	$ 1
Common stock, shares authorized	1,500,000	1,500,000
Common Stock, shares issued	1,050,012	1,050,012
Common Stock, shares outstanding	1,050,012	1,050,012
Affiliates | Stewart Information Services Corporation - Parent Company
Schedule Of Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets [Line Items]
Other	0	3,000
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$ 2,000	$ 3,000