Document and Entity Information - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Feb. 17, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	BERKLEY W R CORP
Entity Central Index Key	0000011544
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2015
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2015
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		121,213,179
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Public Float			$ 5,857,187,550