Earnings per share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Numerator:
Net income (loss) attributable to Stewart	$ 17,106	$ 6,279	$ 4,658	$ (5,828)
Interest expense, net of tax effects	0	314	0	0
If-converted net income (loss) attributable to Stewart	$ 17,106	$ 6,593	$ 4,658	$ (5,828)
Denominator (000):
Basic average shares outstanding	23,624	22,476	23,806	22,491
Dilutive average number of shares relating to convertible senior notes	0	2,087	0	0
Dilutive average shares outstanding	23,795	24,848	23,975	22,491
Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to Stewart (usd per share)	$ 0.72	$ 0.28	$ 0.20	$ (0.26)
Dilutive earnings (loss) per share attributable to Stewart (usd per share)	$ 0.72	$ 0.27	$ 0.19	$ (0.26)
Stock Option
Denominator (000):
Dilutive average number of shares relating to share-based payment arrangements	2	1	2	0
Restricted Stock
Denominator (000):
Dilutive average number of shares relating to share-based payment arrangements	169	284	167	0