SCHEDULE II - CONDENSED PARENT COMPANY BALANCE SHEET NOTES (DETAILS 3) (USD $)	12 Months Ended			1 Months Ended		1 Months Ended			1 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Nov. 30, 2004 Senior Notes 2004 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Senior Notes 2004 [Member]	Mar. 31, 2010 Senior Notes 2010 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Senior Notes 2010 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 AXIS Capital Holdings Limited [Member] Financial Guarantee [Member]	Nov. 30, 2004 AXIS Capital Holdings Limited [Member] Senior Notes 2004 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 AXIS Capital Holdings Limited [Member] Senior Notes 2004 [Member]
Condensed Parent Company Financial Statements [Line Items]
Principal amount					$ 500,000,000		$ 500,000,000			$ 500,000,000
Interest rate					5.75%		5.875%	5.875%		5.75%
Issue price (percentage of principal)				99.785%		99.624%			99.785%
Net proceeds from issuance of senior notes	0	494,870,000	0	496,000,000		495,000,000			496,000,000
Principal amount guaranteed								$ 500,000,000