Cover Page - shares	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jul. 31, 2020
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2020
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-33493
Entity Registrant Name	GREENLIGHT CAPITAL RE, LTD.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	E9
Entity Address, Address Line One	65 Market Street
Entity Address, Address Line Two	Suite 1207, Jasmine Court
Entity Address, City or Town	Camana Bay
Entity Address, Country	KY
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	KY1-1205
City Area Code	345
Local Phone Number	943-4573
Title of 12(b) Security	Class A Ordinary Shares
Trading Symbol	GLRE
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Central Index Key	0001385613
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Common Class A
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		29,741,459
Common Class B
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		6,254,715