Percentage of voting equity interests acquired at the acquisition date in the business combination.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=65885119&loc=d3e1392-128463

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionPercentageOfVotingInterestsAcquired
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The percentage rate used to calculate dividend payments on preferred stock.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PreferredStockDividendRatePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Value of the difference between preference in liquidation and the par or stated values of the preferred shares.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PreferredStockLiquidationPreferenceValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of stock bought back by the entity at the exercise price or redemption price.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21463-112644

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_StockRedeemedOrCalledDuringPeriodShares
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Detail information of subsequent event by type. User is expected to use existing line items from elsewhere in the taxonomy as the primary line items for this disclosure, which is further associated with dimension and member elements pertaining to a subsequent event.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsequentEventLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis=us-gaap_SeriesCPreferredStockMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis=us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=axs_CompagnieBelgedAssurancesAviationNVSAMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
SUBSEQUENT EVENTS (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Apr. 17, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Apr. 01, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Preferred shares		$ 1,126,074		$ 1,126,074
Series C Preferred Stock [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Preferred stock, dividend rate, percentage		6.875%
Series C Preferred Stock [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	14,042,955
Preferred shares	$ 351,000
Compagnie Belge d'Assurances Aviation NV/SA [Member] \| Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Interests acquired			100.00%