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Employee Benefit Plans (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended			6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended				3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011 General and Administrative Expense [Member] Employee Stock Option [Member]	Jun. 30, 2010 General and Administrative Expense [Member] Employee Stock Option [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 General and Administrative Expense [Member] Employee Stock Option [Member]	Jun. 30, 2010 General and Administrative Expense [Member] Employee Stock Option [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 RSUs [Member]	Jun. 30, 2010 RSUs [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 RSUs [Member]	Jun. 30, 2010 RSUs [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 RSUs [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 RSUs [Member] Allied World Switzerland (Parent Guarantor) [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 RSUs [Member] Allied World Switzerland (Parent Guarantor) [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 RSUs [Member] Allied World Switzerland (Parent Guarantor) [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 LTIP Award [Member]	Jun. 30, 2010 LTIP Award [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 LTIP Award [Member]	Jun. 30, 2010 LTIP Award [Member]	Dec. 31, 2008 LTIP Award [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 LTIP Award [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 2001 Employee Stock Option Plan [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 2004 Stock Incentive Plan [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Cash-Equivalent Stock Awards [Member]	Jun. 30, 2010 Cash-Equivalent Stock Awards [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Cash-Equivalent Stock Awards [Member]	Jun. 30, 2010 Cash-Equivalent Stock Awards [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Employee Stock Option [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Employee Stock Option [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Employee Stock Option [Member] Allied World Switzerland (Parent Guarantor) [Member]
Common shares, issued																		2,000,000		2,000,000				4,000,000	2,000,000
Exercise price of options issued not be less than percentage of fair market value of the common shares granted																																100.00%
Percentage of weighted average annual forfeiture rate used in determining in compensation expense over the service period													2.80%																	6.72%
Amount of compensation expense recorded	$ 9,668	$ 10,939	$ 20,687	$ 22,775		$ 997	$ 758	$ 2,176	$ 1,550	$ 3,707	$ 3,327	$ 7,529	$ 7,041					$ 1,558	$ 3,842	$ 2,407	$ 8,863					$ 3,406	$ 3,012	$ 8,575	$ 5,321
Additional paid-in capital	$ 82,037		$ 82,037		$ 170,239					$ 34,865		$ 34,865		$ 37,991				$ 46,852		$ 46,852			$ 77,728							$ 41,207	$ 41,505
Expense related to unvested awards in percentage of fair value															100.00%	100.00%	150.00%					150.00%

Represents the expense recognized during the period arising from equity-based compensation arrangements (for example, shares of stock, unit, stock options or other equity instruments) with employees, directors and certain consultants qualifying for treatment as employees.

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- Definition

The maximum number of shares (or other type of equity) originally approved (usually by shareholders and board of directors), net of any subsequent amendments and adjustments, for awards under the equity-based compensation plan. As stock or unit options and equity instruments other than options are awarded to participants, the shares or units remain authorized and become reserved for issuance under outstanding awards (not necessarily vested).

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