Statutory Accounting (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Essent Guaranty
Dividends Restrictions
Statutory net income	$ 215,951	$ 172,688	$ 118,204
Statutory surplus	578,887	522,172	465,226
Contingency reserve liability	480,829	315,058	179,221
Increase in contingency reserve	165,800
Essent PA
Dividends Restrictions
Statutory net income	12,978	15,200	13,299
Statutory surplus	47,387	47,139	42,672
Contingency reserve liability	36,401	27,502	$ 16,909
Increase in contingency reserve	8,900
Essent Re
Dividends Restrictions
Statutory net income	53,800	26,700
Statutory capital and surplus	$ 390,900	$ 213,000