Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Treasury Shares	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Retained Earnings	Noncontrolling Interest (excludes redeemable noncontrolling interests)	Share Capital - Ordinary Shares Ordinary Shares	Share Capital Series A Non-Voting Convertible Ordinary Shares Ordinary Shares	Share Capital Series C Non-Voting Convertible Ordinary Shares Ordinary Shares	Share Capital Series E Non-Voting Convertible Ordinary Shares Ordinary Shares	Share Capital Series B Convertible Participating Non-Voting Perpetual Preferred Stock Preferred Stock
Balance, beginning of year at Dec. 31, 2012			$ 958,571	$ 24,439	$ 972,853	$ 221,478	$ 13,752			$ 0	$ 0
Balance, beginning of year at Dec. 31, 2012				27,821
Balance, beginning of year at Dec. 31, 2012				(7,179)
Balance, beginning of year at Dec. 31, 2012				3,797
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issue of shares							51
Issue of shares and warrants			650
Amortization of share-based compensation			2,924
Change in currency translation adjustment	$ (19,473)			(13,557)		(5,916)
Change in defined benefit pension liability	4,930			4,930
Change in unrealized losses on investments	(2,045)			(1,834)
Net earnings attributable to Enstar Group Limited	208,604				208,604
Accretion of redeemable noncontrolling interests to redemption value					0
Dividends paid						(3,908)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(15,218)					11,048
Net movement in unrealized holding losses on investments	(2,536)					(702)
Balance, end of year at Dec. 31, 2013		$ (421,559)	962,145	13,978	1,181,457	222,000	13,803	$ 2,973	$ 2,726	0	0
Balance, end of year at Dec. 31, 2013				14,264
Balance, end of year at Dec. 31, 2013				(2,249)
Balance, end of year at Dec. 31, 2013				1,963
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issue of shares							1,958				714
Conversion of convertible securities										714	(714)
Issue of shares and warrants			354,622
Amortization of share-based compensation			4,948
Change in currency translation adjustment	(19,421)			(17,043)		(2,181)
Change in defined benefit pension liability	(5,477)			(5,477)
Change in unrealized losses on investments	(6,297)			(4,144)
Net earnings attributable to Enstar Group Limited	213,749				213,749
Accretion of redeemable noncontrolling interests to redemption value	0				0
Return of capital						(11,864)
Dividends paid						(18,108)
Contribution of capital						18,081
Reallocation from (to) redeemable noncontrolling interest						1,028
Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(13,487)					9,429
Net movement in unrealized holding losses on investments	(6,355)					(415)
Balance, end of year at Dec. 31, 2014	2,522,820	(421,559)	1,321,715	(12,686)	1,395,206	217,970	15,761	2,973	2,726	714	0
Balance, end of year at Dec. 31, 2014				(2,779)
Balance, end of year at Dec. 31, 2014				(7,726)
Balance, end of year at Dec. 31, 2014				(2,181)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issue of shares							63
Conversion of convertible securities							309			(309)
Issue of shares and warrants			1,765
Amortization of share-based compensation			7,867
Equity attributable to purchase of noncontrolling shareholders’ interest in subsidiaries			41,697
Change in currency translation adjustment	(24,694)			(23,948)		(1,558)
Purchase of noncontrolling shareholders' interest in subsidiaries				2,937
Change in defined benefit pension liability	3			3
Change in unrealized losses on investments	(3,219)			(1,780)
Purchase of noncontrolling shareholders’ interest in subsidiaries				312
Net earnings attributable to Enstar Group Limited	220,291				220,291
Accretion of redeemable noncontrolling interests to redemption value	(37,185)				(37,185)
Sale of noncontrolling shareholders' interest in subsidiaries						(195,347)
Dividends paid						(733)
Contribution of capital						680
Reallocation from (to) redeemable noncontrolling interest						(15,801)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	9,950					(1,153)
Net movement in unrealized holding losses on investments	(3,485)					(147)
Balance, end of year at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 2,520,783	$ (421,559)	$ 1,373,044	(35,162)	$ 1,578,312	$ 3,911	$ 16,133	$ 2,973	$ 2,726	$ 405	$ 0
Balance, end of year at Dec. 31, 2015				(23,790)
Balance, end of year at Dec. 31, 2015				(7,723)
Balance, end of year at Dec. 31, 2015				$ (3,649)