Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net revenues	$ 58,583	$ 31,420	$ 155,666	$ 86,532
Cost of revenues	40,599	23,340	111,095	62,061
Gross profit	17,984	8,080	44,571	24,471
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative expenses	9,531	5,146	27,075	16,204
Amortization of intangibles	2,273	1,985	7,347	6,616
Total operating expenses	11,804	7,131	34,422	22,820
Operating income	6,180	949	10,149	1,651
Interest income, net	554	472	1,763	2,341
Other income (expense), net	(1,299)	1,467	2,283	1,408
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity method loss	5,435	2,888	14,195	5,400
Benefit from (provision for) income taxes	(1,537)	297	1,059	2,314
Loss from equity method investees, net of taxes	(4,843)	(138)	(3,402)	(218)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations	(945)	3,047	11,852	7,496
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes	0	(888)	0	(1,477)
Net income (loss)	(945)	2,159	11,852	6,019
Net loss (income) attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated entities
Continuing operations	(238)	(178)	99	(122)
Discontinued operations	0	489	0	954
Net income (loss) attributable to Steel Excel Inc.	$ (1,183)	$ 2,470	$ 11,951	$ 6,851
Basic income (loss) per share attributable to Steel Excel Inc.:
Net income (loss) from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.10)	$ 0.23	$ 1.02	$ 0.58
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00	$ (0.03)	$ 0.00	$ (0.04)
Net income (loss) (in dollars per share)	$ (0.10)	$ 0.20	$ 1.02	$ 0.54
Diluted income (loss) per share attributable to Steel Excel Inc.:
Net income (loss) from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.10)	$ 0.23	$ 1.01	$ 0.58
Loss from discontinued operations, net of taxes (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00	$ (0.03)	$ 0.00	$ (0.04)
Net income (loss) (in dollars per share)	$ (0.10)	$ 0.20	$ 1.01	$ 0.54
Shares used in computing income (loss) per share:
Basic (in Shares)	11,437	12,529	11,769	12,736
Diluted (in Shares)	11,437	12,546	11,790	12,754