Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Investment Unaudited - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020		Mar. 31, 2019		Jan. 01, 2020
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 162,567	[1]	$ 175,446
Net income (loss)	(11,279)	[2]	6,146	[3]
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(1,544)		5,057
Cash dividends paid	(3,268)		(3,282)
Stock-based compensation	880		(247)
Repurchases of common stock	(2,666)		(16,418)
Shares issued in connection with stock-based compensation plans, net	10		(110)
Increase in value of noncontrolling interest due to acquisition	(292)
Adoption of Topic 326					$ (607)
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests			(84)
Ending balance	143,801		166,508
Shareholders' Investment Attributable to Shareholders of Crawford & Company
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	159,317		171,288
Net income (loss)	(11,399)	[2]	6,109	[3]
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(1,545)		5,073
Cash dividends paid	(3,268)		(3,282)
Stock-based compensation	880		(247)
Repurchases of common stock	(2,666)		(16,418)
Shares issued in connection with stock-based compensation plans, net	10		(110)
Increase in value of noncontrolling interest due to acquisition	307
Adoption of Topic 326					(607)
Ending balance	141,029		162,413
Additional Paid-In Capital
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	63,392		58,793
Stock-based compensation	880		(247)
Shares issued in connection with stock-based compensation plans, net	(54)		(225)
Increase in value of noncontrolling interest due to acquisition	(269)
Ending balance	63,949		58,321
Retained Earnings
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	249,551		273,607
Net income (loss)	(11,399)	[2]	6,109	[3]
Cash dividends paid	(3,268)		(3,282)
Repurchases of common stock	(2,350)		(14,620)
Adoption of Topic 326					$ (607)
Ending balance	231,927		261,814
AOCL attributable to shareholders of Crawford & Company
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(206,907)		(216,447)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(1,545)		5,073
Increase in value of noncontrolling interest due to acquisition	576
Ending balance	(207,876)		(211,374)
Noncontrolling Interests
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	3,250		4,158
Net income (loss)	120	[2]	37	[3]
Other comprehensive income (loss)	1		(16)
Increase in value of noncontrolling interest due to acquisition	(599)
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests			(84)
Ending balance	2,772		4,095
Class A Non-Voting | Common Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	30,610		30,927
Repurchases of common stock	(155)		(421)
Shares issued in connection with stock-based compensation plans, net	64		115
Ending balance	30,519		30,621
Class B Voting | Common Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	22,671		24,408
Repurchases of common stock	(161)		(1,377)
Ending balance	$ 22,510		$ 23,031

[1] Derived from the audited Consolidated Balance Sheet

[2] The total net loss presented in the condensed consolidated statements of shareholders' investment for the three months ended March 31, 2020 excludes $1,880 in net loss attributable to the redeemable noncontrolling interests.

[3] The total net income presented in the condensed consolidated statements of shareholders' investment for the three months ended March 31, 2019 excludes $377 in net loss attributable to the redeemable noncontrolling interests.