The current period expense charged against earnings on long-lived, physical assets not used in production, and which are not intended for resale, to allocate or recognize the cost of such assets over their useful lives; or to record the reduction in book value of an intangible asset over the benefit period of such asset; or to reflect consumption during the period of an asset that is not used in production.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 360

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391035&loc=d3e2868-110229

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the income or loss from continuing operations attributable to the economic entity which may also be defined as revenue less expenses from ongoing operations, after income or loss from equity method investments, but before income taxes, extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 10

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of revenue recognized from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an earning process. Includes, but is not limited to, investment and interest income before deduction of interest expense when recognized as a component of revenue, and sales and trading gain (loss).

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 225

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 1

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_Revenues
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ConsolidationItemsAxis=us-gaap_IntersegmentEliminationMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=stc_TitleMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=us-gaap_CorporateMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=us-gaap_MortgagesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Segment information - Summary of Segmental Revenues and Expenses (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 522,319us-gaap_Revenues	$ 508,097us-gaap_Revenues	$ 446,838us-gaap_Revenues	$ 393,576us-gaap_Revenues	$ 450,211us-gaap_Revenues	$ 536,835us-gaap_Revenues	$ 517,220us-gaap_Revenues	$ 423,714us-gaap_Revenues	$ 1,870,830us-gaap_Revenues	$ 1,927,980us-gaap_Revenues	$ 1,910,412us-gaap_Revenues
Depreciation and amortization									24,226us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization	17,920us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization	17,783us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization
Earnings (loss) before taxes and noncontrolling interests									51,812	101,065	89,338
Intersegment Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									462	10,328	9,412
Title
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									1,660,001	1,792,210	1,731,549
Depreciation and amortization									7,059	5,957	6,545
Earnings (loss) before taxes and noncontrolling interests									184,016	211,240	159,478
Mortgage Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									194,018	121,945	158,665
Depreciation and amortization									9,540	4,634	3,662
Earnings (loss) before taxes and noncontrolling interests									6,364	12,609	48,957
Mortgage Services \| Intersegment Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									462	7,178	5,576
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									16,811	13,825	20,198
Depreciation and amortization									7,627	7,329	7,576
Earnings (loss) before taxes and noncontrolling interests									(138,568)	(122,784)	(119,097)
Corporate \| Intersegment Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									$ 0	$ 3,150	$ 3,836