SCHEDULE II - CONDENSED PARENT COMPANY STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (DETAILS 5) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 513,368	$ 641,631	$ 810,745
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Other items	(13,804)	16,119	81,202
Net cash provided by operating activities	406,724	791,200	862,182
Cash flows from investing activities:
Net cash used in investing activities	(144,431)	(225,697)	(154,076)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net proceeds from issuance of preferred shares	531,945	0	0
Repurchase of common shares	(509,755)	(332,252)	(543,202)
Dividends paid - common shares	(132,323)	(118,652)	(117,619)
Repurchase of preferred shares	(51,769)	0	0
Dividends paid - preferred shares	(39,909)	(40,088)	(40,088)
Proceeds from issuance of common shares	224	3,986	5,550
Redemption of senior notes	0	0	(500,000)
Net cash used in financing activities	(201,587)	(487,006)	(686,015)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	51,361	66,303	(1,496)
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of year	988,133	921,830	923,326
Cash and cash equivalents - end of year	1,039,494	988,133	921,830
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Interest paid	48,875	48,875	68,850
AXIS Capital Holdings Limited [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	513,368	641,631	810,745
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Equity in net earnings of subsidiaries	(552,621)	(369,642)	(895,489)
Change in intercompany payable	33,286	(180,312)	8,272
Dividends received from subsidiaries	550,000	420,000	724,000
Other items	17,807	(23,614)	53,865
Net cash provided by operating activities	561,840	488,063	701,393
Cash flows from investing activities:
Promissory note receivable from subsidiary	(368,252)	0	0
Capital repaid from subsidiary	0	0	496,593
Net cash used in investing activities	(368,252)	0	496,593
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net proceeds from issuance of preferred shares	531,945	0	0
Repurchase of common shares	(509,755)	(332,252)	(543,202)
Dividends paid - common shares	(132,323)	(118,652)	(117,619)
Repurchase of preferred shares	(51,769)	0	0
Dividends paid - preferred shares	(39,909)	(40,088)	(40,088)
Proceeds from issuance of common shares	224	3,986	5,550
Redemption of senior notes	0	0	(500,000)
Net cash used in financing activities	(201,587)	(487,006)	(1,195,359)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(7,999)	1,057	2,627
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of year	8,098	7,041	4,414
Cash and cash equivalents - end of year	99	8,098	7,041
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Interest paid	$ 0	$ 0	$ 28,750