Earnings per Common Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Basic earnings per share:
Income attributable to Hilltop	$ 30,206	$ 51,932	$ 119,116	$ 110,573
Less: income applicable to participating shares		(5)		(11)
Net earnings available to Hilltop common stockholders	$ 30,206	$ 51,927	$ 119,116	$ 110,562
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic	96,096	98,490	97,554	98,367
Basic earnings per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.31	$ 0.53	$ 1.22	$ 1.12
Diluted earnings per share:
Income applicable to Hilltop common stockholders	$ 30,206	$ 51,932	$ 119,116	$ 110,573
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic	96,096	98,490	97,554	98,367
Effect of potentially dilutive securities (in shares)	210	135	249	206
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted	96,306	98,625	97,803	98,573
Diluted earnings per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.31	$ 0.53	$ 1.22	$ 1.12