Estimated title Losses (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Loss Contingency Accrual
Balances at January 1	$ 506,888	$ 520,375	$ 502,611
Provisions, Current year	64,577	92,043	100,406
Provisions, Previous policy years	16,728	14,275	39,623
Total provisions	81,305us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualProvision	106,318us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualProvision	140,029us-gaap_LossContingencyAccrualProvision
Payments, Current year	(18,775)	(23,969)	(16,782)
Payments, Previous policy years	(67,898)	(91,715)	(107,194)
Total payments	(86,673)	(115,684)	(123,976)
Acquired balance	2,268	0	0
Effects of changes in foreign currency exchange rates	(8,393)	(4,121)	1,711
Balances at December 31	$ 495,395	$ 506,888	$ 520,375
Loss ratios as a percentage of title operating revenues:
Current year provisions	3.80%	5.10%	5.80%
Total provisions	4.70%stc_PercentageAllowanceOnLosses	5.90%stc_PercentageAllowanceOnLosses	8.10%stc_PercentageAllowanceOnLosses

Loss Contingency Accrual, Effects Of Changes In Foreign Currency Exchange Rates

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Loss Contingency Accrual, Loss Ratio in Percentage, Current Year Estimated Loss

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Loss Contingency Accrual, Payments, Current Year Claims

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Loss Contingency Accrual, Payments, Claims, Prior Years

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Loss Contingency Accrual, Provision, Current Year Estimated Loss

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Loss Contingency Accrual, Provision, Increase (Decrease) In Prior Year Estimates

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Percentage Allowance on Losses

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Amount of loss contingency liability.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14326-108349

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Amount of payments made reducing loss contingency liability.

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Amount of increase (decrease) in loss contingency liability.

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Amount charged against operating income increasing loss contingency liability, after adjustments to reduce previously estimated charges.

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