Securities - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Realized net gains from trading securities portfolio	$ 5.8	$ 6.0	$ 18.7	$ 17.5
Carrying amount of securities pledged	600.6		600.6		$ 695.1
Fair value of securities pledged	597.1		597.1		688.1
Hilltop Broker-Dealers
Realized net gains from trading securities portfolio	21.8	$ 33.7	38.8	$ 63.0
NLC
Deposit with various state insurance departments	$ 9.3		$ 9.3		$ 9.2

The carrying amount of the asset transferred to a third party to serve as a deposit, which typically serves as security against failure by the transferor to perform under terms of an agreement.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.8,17)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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The fair value as of the balance sheet date of financial instruments and other positions owned by the entity and pledged to counterparties as collateral, including: (1) mortgages, mortgage-backed and asset backed securities; (2) US government and agency obligations; (3) state and municipal government obligations; (4) other sovereign government debt; (5) corporate obligations; (6) corporate equities; (7) principal investments; (8) derivative contracts; and (9) physical commodities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 860
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66007379&loc=d3e113888-111728

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 860
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1A
-Subparagraph (c)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64858031&loc=SL6224234-111729

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- Definition

Sum of the carrying amounts as of the date of the latest financial statement presented of securities which are owned but transferred to another party to serve as collateral to partially or fully secure a debt obligation, repurchase agreement or other current or potential obligation, and for which the transferee is not permitted to sell or re-pledge them to an unrelated party.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 860
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1A
-Subparagraph (b)(1)(i)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64858031&loc=SL6224234-111729

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- Definition

Amount of gain (loss) realized from securities classified as trading.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.7(c))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Trading Securities
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6526789

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