Schedule I - Statements of Operations and Retained Earnings (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations [Line Items]
Other operating expenses	$ 347,276us-gaap_OtherCostAndExpenseOperating	$ 280,258us-gaap_OtherCostAndExpenseOperating	$ 286,496us-gaap_OtherCostAndExpenseOperating
Affiliates \| Stewart Information Services Corporation - Parent Company
Schedule of Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations [Line Items]
Other operating expenses	$ 276	$ 276	$ 305

The total amount of other operating cost and expense items that are associated with the entity's normal revenue producing operation.

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 210.5-03.3)

-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 3

-Article 5

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