Credit Agreements	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Debt Disclosure [Text Block]	11. CREDIT AGREEMENTS In the normal course of its operations, the Company enters into agreements with financial institutions to obtain secured and unsecured credit facilities. On June 7, 2012, Allied World Bermuda amended its existing secured credit facility. The amended $450,000 four-year secured credit facility (the “Amended Secured Credit Facility”) is primarily used for the issuance of standby letters of credit to support obligations in connection with the insurance and reinsurance business of Allied World Bermuda and its subsidiaries. A portion of the facility may also be used for revolving loans for general corporate and working capital purposes, up to a maximum of $150,000. Allied World Bermuda may request that existing lenders under the Amended Secured Credit Facility make additional commitments from time to time, up to $150,000, subject to approval by the lenders. The Amended Secured Credit Facility contains representations, warranties and covenants customary for similar bank loan facilities, including certain covenants that, among other things, require the Company to maintain a certain leverage ratio and financial strength rating. On June 7, 2012, upon entering into the Amended Secured Credit Facility, Allied World Bermuda terminated its $400,000 unsecured credit facility.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for information about short-term and long-term debt arrangements, which includes amounts of borrowings under each line of credit, note payable, commercial paper issue, bonds indenture, debenture issue, own-share lending arrangements and any other contractual agreement to repay funds, and about the underlying arrangements, rationale for a classification as long-term, including repayment terms, interest rates, collateral provided, restrictions on use of assets and activities, whether or not in compliance with debt covenants, and other matters important to users of the financial statements, such as the effects of refinancing and noncompliance with debt covenants.

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