Statutory Accounting (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Essent Guaranty
Dividends Restrictions
Statutory net income	$ 312,091	$ 443,675	$ 379,119
Statutory surplus	1,048,878	1,032,416	872,105
Contingency reserve liability	1,499,782	1,197,279	916,568
Increase in contingency reserve	302,500
Released contingency reserves	100
Essent PA
Dividends Restrictions
Statutory net income	4,560	8,073	9,306
Statutory surplus	54,354	52,936	49,336
Contingency reserve liability	56,032	52,957	$ 48,545
Increase in contingency reserve	3,100
Released contingency reserves	100
Essent Re
Dividends Restrictions
Statutory net income	143,500	176,400
Statutory capital and surplus	$ 1,100,000	$ 939,200