Earnings per share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Basic earnings per share
Net (loss) income (attributable) available to Validus common shareholders	$ (4,078)	$ 94,561
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding	79,325,688	79,133,671
Basic earnings per share available to common shareholders	$ (0.05)	$ 1.19
Earnings per diluted share
Net (loss) income (attributable) available to Validus common shareholders		$ 94,561	$ (4,078)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding	79,325,688	79,133,671
Weighted average number of diluted common shares outstanding	79,325,688	80,739,142
Earnings per diluted share available to common shareholders	$ (0.05)	$ 1.17
Other details:
Anti-dilutive securities excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share		1,503
Stock options
Earnings per diluted share
Share equivalents	0	15,379
Unvested restricted shares
Earnings per diluted share
Share equivalents	0	1,590,092

Securities (including those issuable pursuant to contingent stock agreements) that could potentially dilute basic earnings per share (EPS) or earnings per unit (EPU) in the future that were not included in the computation of diluted EPS or EPU because to do so would increase EPS or EPU amounts or decrease loss per share or unit amounts for the period presented.

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The amount of net income (loss) for the period available to each share of common stock or common unit outstanding during the reporting period and to each share or unit that would have been outstanding assuming the issuance of common shares or units for all dilutive potential common shares or units outstanding during the reporting period.

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Amount, after deduction of tax, noncontrolling interests, dividends on preferred stock and participating securities; of income (loss) available to common shareholders.

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Amount, after deduction of tax, noncontrolling interests, dividends on preferred stock and participating securities, and addition from assumption of issuance of common shares for dilutive potential common shares; of income (loss) available to common shareholders.

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Earnings per share.

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