CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Hilltop.	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit).	Deferred Compensation Employee Stock Trust, Net	Employee Stock Trust	Noncontrolling Interest	Total
Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 1,870,509	$ 985	$ 1,572,877	$ 485	$ 295,568	$ 903	$ (309)	$ 4,011	$ 1,874,520
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016		98,544,000					15,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Net income	119,116				119,116			353	119,469
Other comprehensive income	2,100			2,100					2,100
Stock-based compensation expense	8,396		8,396						8,396
Common stock issued to board members	327		327						327
Common stock issued to board members (in shares)		12,000
Issuance of common stock related to share-based awards, net	(2,430)	$ 3	(2,433)						(2,430)
Issuance of common stock related to share-based awards, net (in shares)		264,000
Repurchase of common stock	(74,454)	$ (29)	(53,998)		(20,427)				(74,454)
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)		(2,916,000)
Dividends on common stock	(17,384)				(17,384)				(17,384)
Deferred compensation plan	5					(63)	$ 68		5
Deferred compensation plan (in shares)							(3,000)
Net cash distributed to noncontrolling interest								(1,193)	(1,193)
Balance at Sep. 30, 2017	1,906,185	$ 959	1,525,169	2,585	376,873	840	$ (241)	3,171	1,909,356
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2017		95,904,000					12,000
Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	1,912,081	$ 960	1,526,369	(394)	384,545	848	$ (247)	2,726	1,914,807
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017		95,982,000					12,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Net income	93,326				93,326			2,843	96,169
Other comprehensive income	(11,727)			(11,727)					(11,727)
Stock-based compensation expense	6,725		6,725						6,725
Common stock issued to board members	513		513						513
Common stock issued to board members (in shares)		22,000
Issuance of common stock related to share-based awards, net	(1,808)	$ 3	(1,811)						(1,808)
Issuance of common stock related to share-based awards, net (in shares)		292,000
Repurchase of common stock	(38,821)	$ (17)	(27,329)		(11,475)				$ (38,821)
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)		(1,702,000)							(1,702,696)
Dividends on common stock	(20,074)				(20,074)				$ (20,074)
Deferred compensation plan	7					12	$ (5)		7
Deferred compensation plan (in shares)							(1,000)
Adoption of accounting standards (Note 2)				(2,601)	2,601
Net cash contributed from noncontrolling interest								18,367	18,367
Balance at Sep. 30, 2018	$ 1,940,222	$ 946	$ 1,504,467	$ (14,722)	$ 448,923	$ 860	$ (252)	$ 23,936	$ 1,964,158
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2018		94,594,000					11,000