Subsequent Event (Details) (USD $)			9 Months Ended	0 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013 7.5% Senior exchangeable notes due 2025	Nov. 08, 2013 7.5% Senior exchangeable notes due 2025 Hilltop common stock	Oct. 15, 2013 Subsequent event 7.5% Senior exchangeable notes due 2025 HTH Operating Partnership LP	Oct. 15, 2013 Subsequent event 7.5% Senior exchangeable notes due 2025 Insurance company subsidiaries
Subsequent event
Aggregate principal amount					$ 96,600,000
Interest rate (as a percent)					7.50%
Notes payable	$ 140,111,000	$ 141,539,000			$ 90,900,000	$ 6,900,000
Conversion rate of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of the Notes			0.07394998
Conversion rate of common stock (in dollars per share)			$ 13.52
Number of consecutive trading days during which the closing price of the entity's common stock must exceed the exchange price for at least 20 trading days in order for the notes to be exchanged			5 days
Common stock issued for redemption of notes				2,896,316