Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues	$ 9,777	$ 11,324	$ 34,219	$ 32,738
Operating costs:
Cost of goods sold	6,481	6,416	17,669	16,870
Selling, general and administrative	4,307	4,626	13,652	14,382
Interest expense	985	1,012	2,992	3,165
Amortization of intangibles	397	586	1,191	1,759
Total operating costs	12,170	12,640	35,504	36,176
Operating loss	(2,393)	(1,316)	(1,285)	(3,438)
Other income (expense):
Change in fair value of common stock warrant liability	(3,300)	(850)	(8,450)	(1,447)
Gain on extinguishment of long-term debt				396
Other, net	(1)	(60)	100	(172)
Total other income (expense)	(3,301)	(910)	(8,350)	(1,223)
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes	(5,694)	(2,226)	(9,635)	(4,661)
Income tax expense (benefit)	(7)	(60)	86	22
Loss from continuing operations	(5,687)	(2,166)	(9,721)	(4,683)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	(172)	(462)	(827)	(3,082)
Net loss	(5,859)	(2,628)	(10,548)	(7,765)
Loss attributable to noncontrolling interest
Net loss attributable to Signature Group Holdings, Inc.	(5,859)	(2,628)	(10,548)	(7,765)
Basic and diluted:
Loss from continuing operations	$ (0.48)	$ (0.19)	$ (0.82)	$ (0.40)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	$ (0.01)	$ (0.04)	$ (0.07)	$ (0.27)
Net loss attributable to Signature Group Holdings, Inc.	$ (0.49)	$ (0.23)	$ (0.89)	$ (0.67)
Industrial Supply
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues	10,230	10,203	28,054	27,107
Signature Special Situations
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues	(453)	1,121	6,165	5,631
Corporate and Other
Operating revenues:
Total operating revenues