Name:	axs_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedGainLossNetIncludingDerivativesGainsLosses
Namespace Prefix:	axs_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Amount of realized gain on investment in debt and equity securities.

No definition available.

Name:	axs_DebtandEquitySecuritiesRealizedGain
Namespace Prefix:	axs_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Amount of realized loss on investment in debt and equity securities.

No definition available.

Name:	axs_DebtandEquitySecuritiesRealizedLoss
Namespace Prefix:	axs_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Amount of realized and unrealized gain (loss) of derivative instruments not designated or qualifying as hedging instruments and relating to the entity's investment portfolio.

No definition available.

Name:	axs_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsInvestmentPortfolioGainLoss
Namespace Prefix:	axs_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

This item represents the gross profit realized on the sale of debt or equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedGains
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

This item represents the gross loss realized on the sale of debt or equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossRealizedLosses
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Amount of realized gain from sale of investment in equity security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in net income (FV-NI).

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 321
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116654751&loc=SL75117546-209714

Name:	us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesFvNiRealizedGain
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Amount of realized loss from sale of investment in equity security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in net income (FV-NI).

Name:	us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesFvNiRealizedLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Amount of unrealized gain (loss) on investment in equity security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in net income (FV-NI).

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 321
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116654751&loc=SL75117546-209714

Name:	us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesFvNiUnrealizedGainLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

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

The amount of other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses on equity securities, OTTI related to credit losses on debt securities, and OTTI losses on debt securities when the entity intends to sell the securities or it is more likely than not that the entity will be required to sell the securities before recovery of its amortized cost basis. Additionally, this item includes OTTI losses recognized during the period on investments accounted for under the cost method of accounting.

No definition available.