Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Revenues from Services:
Revenues	$ 1,047,627,000	$ 1,122,979,000	$ 1,163,709,000
Costs and Expenses:
Costs of services	752,773,000	808,005,000	842,167,000
Selling, general, and administrative expenses	227,170,000	242,421,000	239,840,000
Corporate interest expense, net of interest income of $745, $1,290, and $847, respectively	10,774,000	10,109,000	9,062,000
Goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges	17,484,000	1,056,000	19,598,000
Arbitration and claim settlements	12,552,000	0	0
Restructuring and special charges	0	0	12,084,000
Loss on disposition of business line	0	20,270,000	0
Total Costs and Expenses	1,020,753,000	1,081,861,000	1,122,751,000
Other (Loss) Income	(3,237,000)	3,013,000	1,304,000
Income Before Income Taxes	23,637,000	44,131,000	42,262,000
Provision for Income Taxes	14,111,000	18,542,000	15,039,000
Net Income	9,526,000	25,589,000	27,223,000
Net Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests and Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests	2,959,000	389,000	442,000
Net Income Attributable to Shareholders of Crawford & Company	$ 12,485,000	$ 25,978,000	$ 27,665,000
Class A Non-Voting
Earnings Per Share - Basic:
Earnings (Loss) Per Share - Basic (in usd per share)	$ 0.27	$ 0.51	$ 0.53
Earnings Per Share - Diluted:
Earnings (Loss) Per Share - Diluted (in usd per share)	$ 0.26	$ 0.50	$ 0.52
Weighted-Average Shares Used to Compute Basic Earnings Per Share:
Weighted Average Shares Used to Compute Basic Earnings (Loss) Per Share (shares)	30,637	30,805	31,322
Weighted-Average Shares Used to Compute Diluted Earnings Per Share:
Weighted Average Shares Used to Compute Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Share (in shares)	31,090	31,434	32,158
Cash Dividends Per Share:
Cash Dividends Per Share (in usd per share)	$ 0.28	$ 0.28	$ 0.28
Class B Voting
Earnings Per Share - Basic:
Earnings (Loss) Per Share - Basic (in usd per share)	0.19	0.43	0.45
Earnings Per Share - Diluted:
Earnings (Loss) Per Share - Diluted (in usd per share)	$ 0.19	$ 0.42	$ 0.45
Weighted-Average Shares Used to Compute Basic Earnings Per Share:
Weighted Average Shares Used to Compute Basic Earnings (Loss) Per Share (shares)	22,975	24,449	24,606
Weighted-Average Shares Used to Compute Diluted Earnings Per Share:
Weighted Average Shares Used to Compute Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Share (in shares)	22,975	24,449	24,606
Cash Dividends Per Share:
Cash Dividends Per Share (in usd per share)	$ 0.2	$ 0.2	$ 0.2
Service
Revenues from Services:
Revenues	$ 1,005,802,000	$ 1,070,971,000	$ 1,105,832,000
Costs and Expenses:
Costs of services	710,948,000	755,997,000	784,290,000
Reimbursements
Revenues from Services:
Revenues	41,825,000	52,008,000	57,877,000
Costs and Expenses:
Costs of services	$ 41,825,000	$ 52,008,000	$ 57,877,000