Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Investment - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended					6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015		Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015		Jun. 30, 2014
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	$ 177,595	$ 179,353	[1]	$ 205,027	$ 207,533	$ 179,353	[1]	$ 207,533
Net income	4,178	3,281		10,594	6,586	7,459		17,180
Other comprehensive income (loss)	1,411	(7,868)		6,452	(2,872)	(6,457)		3,580
Cash dividends paid	(3,384)	(3,373)		(2,502)	(2,489)
Stock-based compensation	876	404		1,192	(449)
Common stock activity, net	433	(128)		(919)	(2,502)
Increase in value of noncontrolling interest due to acquisition		5,926
Decrease in value of noncontrolling interest due to sale of controlling interest					(638)
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests					(142)
Ending Balance	181,109	177,595		219,844	205,027	181,109		219,844
Shareholders' Investment Attributable to Shareholders of Crawford & Company
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	165,381	172,937		198,504	199,805	172,937		199,805
Net income	4,054	2,986		10,464	6,652
Other comprehensive income (loss)	1,717	(7,445)		6,284	(2,513)
Cash dividends paid	(3,384)	(3,373)		(2,502)	(2,489)
Stock-based compensation	876	404		1,192	(449)
Common stock activity, net	433	(128)		(919)	(2,502)
Ending Balance	169,077	165,381		213,023	198,504	169,077		213,023
Additional Paid-In Capital
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	38,977	38,617		37,365	39,285	38,617		39,285
Stock-based compensation	876	404		1,192	(449)
Common stock activity, net	260	(44)		163	(1,471)
Ending Balance	40,113	38,977		38,720	37,365	40,113		38,720
Retained Earnings
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	300,584	301,091		288,110	285,165	301,091		285,165
Net income	4,054	2,986		10,464	6,652
Cash dividends paid	$ (3,384)	(3,373)		(2,502)	(2,489)
Common stock activity, net		(120)		(1,235)	(1,218)
Ending Balance	$ 301,254	300,584		294,837	288,110	301,254		294,837
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	(229,403)	(221,958)		(181,723)	(179,210)	(221,958)		(179,210)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	1,717	(7,445)		6,284	(2,513)
Ending Balance	(227,686)	(229,403)		(175,439)	(181,723)	(227,686)		(175,439)
Noncontrolling Interests
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	12,214	6,416		6,523	7,728	6,416		7,728
Net income	124	295		130	(66)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(306)	(423)		168	(359)
Increase in value of noncontrolling interest due to acquisition		5,926
Decrease in value of noncontrolling interest due to sale of controlling interest					(638)
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests					(142)
Ending Balance	12,032	12,214		6,821	6,523	12,032		6,821
Common Class A | Common Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	30,533	30,497		30,062	29,875	30,497		29,875
Common stock activity, net	173	36		153	187
Ending Balance	30,706	30,533		30,215	30,062	30,706		30,215
Common Class B | Common Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	24,690	24,690		24,690	24,690	24,690		24,690
Common stock activity, net	0	0		0	0
Ending Balance	$ 24,690	$ 24,690		$ 24,690	$ 24,690	$ 24,690		$ 24,690

[1] Derived from the audited Consolidated Balance Sheet