Schedule I - Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Schedule Of Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets [Line Items]
Trade and other	$ 60,654,000us-gaap_OtherReceivables	$ 55,737,000us-gaap_OtherReceivables
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	117,583,000	119,961,000
Treasury stock, common shares	352,161us-gaap_TreasuryStockShares	352,161us-gaap_TreasuryStockShares
Stewart Information Services Corporation - Parent Company
Schedule Of Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets [Line Items]
Treasury stock, common shares	352,161	352,161
Undistributed earnings of subsidiaries	544,997	534,494
Common Stock
Schedule Of Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets [Line Items]
Common Stock, par value (usd per share)	$ 1	$ 1
Common stock, shares authorized	50,000,000	50,000,000
Common Stock, shares issued	23,307,909	21,803,179
Common Stock, shares outstanding	22,955,748	21,451,018
Common Stock \| Stewart Information Services Corporation - Parent Company
Schedule Of Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets [Line Items]
Common Stock, par value (usd per share)	$ 1	$ 1
Common stock, shares authorized	50,000,000	50,000,000
Common Stock, shares issued	23,307,909	21,803,179
Common Stock, shares outstanding	22,955,748	21,451,018
Class B Common Stock
Schedule Of Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets [Line Items]
Common Stock, par value (usd per share)	$ 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 (usd per share)	$ 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]
Trade and other	4,000	0
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	$ 0	$ 2,000

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Sum of the carrying values as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred through that date, including liabilities incurred and payable to vendors for goods and services received, taxes, interest, rent and utilities, compensation costs, payroll taxes and fringe benefits (other than pension and postretirement obligations), contractual rights and obligations, and statutory obligations.

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