Schedule II - Condensed financial information of registrant (Cash flow) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities
Net income available to Validus	$ 9,970	$ 92,096	$ 94,963	$ 166,810	$ 69,042	$ 66,650	$ 65,790	$ 173,411	$ 363,839	$ 374,893	$ 479,963
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Dividends received from subsidiaries									320,000	465,000
Amortization of discount on senior notes									108	108	108
Change in net unrealized losses on investments	67,460	$ (5,459)	$ (31,428)	(47,444)	34,862	$ (3,916)	$ 34,676	(33,227)	(16,871)	32,395	2,842
Amortization of premium on fixed maturity investments									17,961	23,075	19,107
Change in:
Net cash provided by operating activities									410,203	334,506	340,161
Cash flows (used in) investing activities
Purchases of fixed maturity investments									(3,074,703)	(4,225,031)	(4,391,814)
Net cash used in investing activities									(991,793)	(370,834)	(162,681)
Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities
Net proceeds on issuance of preferred shares									144,852	0	0
(Redemption) issuance of common shares, net									(7,701)	17,407	5,347
Purchases of common shares under repurchase program									(212,675)	(260,430)	(510,952)
Dividends paid on preferred shares									(4,455)	0	0
Dividends paid on common shares									(115,625)	(112,967)	(117,043)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities									301,089	226,641	(331,102)
Net increase in cash									(303,133)	172,708	(178,932)
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of year				723,109				550,401	723,109	550,401	729,333
Cash and cash equivalents - end of year	419,976				723,109				419,976	723,109	550,401
Parent Company
Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities
Net income available to Validus									363,839	374,893	479,963
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Equity in net earnings of subsidiary									(479,143)	(503,254)	(619,522)
Dividends received from subsidiaries									30,000	620,700	100,000
Net realized gains on investments									(8,020)	0	0
Amortization of discount on senior notes									108	108	108
Share compensation expenses									6,832	7,261	6,424
Change in net unrealized losses on investments									276	395	0
Amortization of premium on fixed maturity investments									115	105	0
Change in:
Other assets									(238)	173	528
Accrued investment income									(190)	(49)	0
Balances due from subsidiaries									10,389	30,689	(12,030)
Balances due to subsidiaries									28,622	0	0
Accounts payable and accrued expenses									(4,348)	5,080	2,624
Net cash provided by operating activities									(51,758)	536,101	(41,905)
Cash flows (used in) investing activities
Purchases of fixed maturity investments									(56,164)	(28,903)	0
Investment in subsidiaries									0	(555,700)	0
Return of capital from subsidiaries									290,000	400,000	673,966
Net cash used in investing activities									233,836	(184,603)	673,966
Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities
Net proceeds on issuance of preferred shares									144,852	0	0
(Redemption) issuance of common shares, net									(7,701)	17,407	5,347
Purchases of common shares under repurchase program									(212,675)	(260,430)	(510,952)
Dividends paid on preferred shares									(4,455)	0	0
Dividends paid on common shares									(115,625)	(112,967)	(117,043)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities									(195,604)	(355,990)	(622,648)
Net increase in cash									(13,526)	(4,492)	9,413
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of year				$ 25,306				$ 29,798	25,306	29,798	20,385
Cash and cash equivalents - end of year	$ 11,780				$ 25,306				$ 11,780	$ 25,306	$ 29,798