Interim Financial Statements - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Organization Consolidation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Statutory reserve funds, investments	$ 438,714,000	$ 450,564,000
Percentage of voting rights owned in electing directors	50.00%
Minimum | Stewart Information Services Corporation and subsidiaries
Organization Consolidation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percentage of voting rights owned in electing directors	20.00%
Maximum | Stewart Information Services Corporation and subsidiaries
Organization Consolidation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Percentage of voting rights owned in electing directors	50.00%
Statutory Reserve
Organization Consolidation And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Statutory reserve funds, cash and cash equivalents	$ 16,400,000	$ 15,100,000