Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of shares authorized to be repurchased by an entity's Board of Directors under a stock repurchase plan.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Total cost of shares repurchased divided by the total number of shares repurchased.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6405813&loc=d3e23239-112655

+ Details

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Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of shares of common and preferred stock retired from treasury during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21463-112644

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Article 3

+ Details

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Period Type:	duration

- Details

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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis=crda_RepurchaseAuthorization2014Member
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Net Income Attributable to Shareholders of Crawford & Company per Common Share (Narrative) (Details) - $ / shares	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Aug. 16, 2014
Common Class A
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock
Shares repurchased (shares)	0	163,830	17,700	337,938
Average cost (usd per share)		$ 8.54	$ 7.79	$ 8.26
Repurchase Authorization 2014 \| Common Stock
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock
Number of shares authorized to be repurchased (shares)					2,000,000