Schedule II - Condensed Balance Sheets (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 821,925	$ 963,402	$ 643,841	$ 654,890
TOTAL ASSETS	11,832,132	9,936,885
LIABILITIES
Loans payable	600,250	320,041
Other liabilities	358,633	199,813
TOTAL LIABILITIES	$ 8,893,686	$ 7,039,446
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Treasury shares at cost (Series A non-voting convertible ordinary shares 2015 and 2014: 2,972,892)	$ (421,559)	$ (421,559)
Additional paid-in capital	1,373,044	1,321,715
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(35,162)	(12,686)
Retained earnings	1,578,312	1,395,206
Total Enstar Group Limited Shareholders’ Equity	2,516,872	2,304,850
TOTAL LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTEREST AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY	$ 11,832,132	$ 9,936,885
Common shares, authorized (shares)	156,000,000	156,000,000
Common shares, par value (dollars per share)	$ 1	$ 1
Share Capital - Ordinary Shares
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Ordinary shares	$ 16,133	$ 15,761
Ordinary shares, shares issued (shares)	16,133,334	15,761,365
Ordinary shares, shares outstanding (shares)	16,133,334	15,761,365
Share Capital Series A Non-Voting Convertible Ordinary Shares
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Ordinary shares	$ 2,973	$ 2,973
Ordinary shares, shares issued (shares)	2,972,892	2,972,892
Treasury shares at cost (Series A non-voting convertible ordinary shares) (shares)	2,972,892	2,972,892
Share Capital Series C Non-Voting Convertible Ordinary Shares
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Ordinary shares	$ 2,726	$ 2,726
Ordinary shares, shares issued (shares)	2,725,637	2,725,637
Ordinary shares, shares outstanding (shares)	2,725,637	2,725,637
Share Capital Series E Non-Voting Convertible Ordinary Shares
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Ordinary shares	$ 405	$ 714
Ordinary shares, shares issued (shares)	404,771	714,015
Ordinary shares, shares outstanding (shares)	404,771	714,015
Enstar Group Limited
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 4,552	$ 21,671	$ 27,989	$ 180,810
Balances due from subsidiaries	489,873	432,312
Investments in subsidiaries	2,674,084	2,216,078
Other assets	7,812	320
TOTAL ASSETS	3,176,321	2,670,381
LIABILITIES
Loans payable	485,836	203,627
Balances due to subsidiaries	160,854	156,107
Other liabilities	12,759	5,797
TOTAL LIABILITIES	659,449	365,531
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Treasury shares at cost (Series A non-voting convertible ordinary shares 2015 and 2014: 2,972,892)	(421,559)	(421,559)
Additional paid-in capital	1,373,044	1,321,715
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(35,162)	(12,686)
Retained earnings	1,578,312	1,395,206
Total Enstar Group Limited Shareholders’ Equity	2,516,872	2,304,850
TOTAL LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTEREST AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY	$ 3,176,321	$ 2,670,381
Common shares, authorized (shares)	156,000,000	156,000,000
Common shares, par value (dollars per share)	$ 1	$ 1
Enstar Group Limited | Share Capital - Ordinary Shares
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Ordinary shares	$ 16,133	$ 15,761
Ordinary shares, shares issued (shares)	16,133,334	15,761,365
Ordinary shares, shares outstanding (shares)	16,133,334	15,761,365
Enstar Group Limited | Share Capital Series A Non-Voting Convertible Ordinary Shares
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Ordinary shares	$ 2,973	$ 2,973
Ordinary shares, shares issued (shares)	2,972,892	2,972,892
Treasury shares at cost (Series A non-voting convertible ordinary shares) (shares)	2,972,892	2,972,892
Enstar Group Limited | Share Capital Series C Non-Voting Convertible Ordinary Shares
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Ordinary shares	$ 2,726	$ 2,726
Ordinary shares, shares issued (shares)	2,725,637	2,725,637
Ordinary shares, shares outstanding (shares)	2,725,637	2,725,637
Enstar Group Limited | Share Capital Series E Non-Voting Convertible Ordinary Shares
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Ordinary shares	$ 405	$ 714
Ordinary shares, shares issued (shares)	404,771	714,015
Ordinary shares, shares outstanding (shares)	404,771	714,015