Unaudited Condensed 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
Balance, beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2014			$ 1,321,715	$ (12,686)	$ 1,395,206	$ 217,970	$ 15,761
Balance, beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2014				(2,779)
Balance, beginning and end of period at Dec. 31, 2014				(7,726)
Balance, beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2014				(2,181)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issue of shares							50
Issue of shares and warrants			449
Amortization of equity incentive plan			1,318
Change in currency translation adjustment	$ (15,886)			(14,180)		(1,891)
Change in unrealized losses on investments	(4,356)			(3,159)
Net earnings attributable to Enstar Group Limited	44,847				44,847
Accretion of redeemable noncontrolling interests to redemption value	(37,185)				0
Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(8,645)					(920)
Net movement in unrealized holding losses on investments	(4,462)					(120)
Balance, end of period at Mar. 31, 2015		$ (421,559)	1,323,482	(30,025)	1,440,053	215,039	15,811	$ 2,973	$ 2,726	$ 714
Balance, end of period at Mar. 31, 2015				(16,959)
Balance, end of period at Mar. 31, 2015				(5,340)
Balance, beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2015	2,520,783		1,373,044	(35,162)	1,578,312	3,911	16,133
Balance, beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2015				(23,790)
Balance, beginning and end of period at Dec. 31, 2015				(7,723)
Balance, beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2015				(3,649)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issue of shares							30
Issue of shares and warrants			(79)
Amortization of equity incentive plan			238
Change in currency translation adjustment	10,595			10,595		0
Change in unrealized losses on investments	6,920			5,463
Net earnings attributable to Enstar Group Limited	45,520				45,520
Accretion of redeemable noncontrolling interests to redemption value	(875)				(875)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(9,085)					(21)
Net movement in unrealized holding losses on investments	6,942					0
Balance, end of period at Mar. 31, 2016	$ 2,581,654	$ (421,559)	$ 1,373,203	(19,104)	$ 1,622,957	$ 3,890	$ 16,163	$ 2,973	$ 2,726	$ 405
Balance, end of period at Mar. 31, 2016				(13,195)
Balance, end of period at Mar. 31, 2016				$ 1,814