COVER PAGE - shares	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jul. 24, 2020
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2020
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-31721
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	D0
Entity Tax Identification Number	98-0395986
Entity Address, Address Line One	92 Pitts Bay Road
Entity Address, City or Town	Pembroke
Entity Address, Country	BM
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	HM 08
City Area Code	441
Local Phone Number	496-2600
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		84,306,657
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Entity Registrant Name	AXIS CAPITAL HOLDINGS LTD
Entity Central Index Key	0001214816
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Common shares
Document Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Common shares, par value $0.0125 per share
Trading Symbol	AXS
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Series E preferred shares
Document Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Depositary Shares, each representing a 1/100th interest in a 5.50% Series E preferred share
Trading Symbol	AXS PRE
Security Exchange Name	NYSE