Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net revenues	$ 33,480	$ 58,583	$ 107,975	$ 155,666
Cost of revenues	26,489	41,400	86,052	113,422
Gross profit	6,991	17,183	21,923	42,244
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative expenses	8,108	8,730	24,150	24,748
Amortization of intangibles	1,992	2,273	6,229	7,347
Total operating expenses	10,100	11,003	30,379	32,095
Operating income (loss)	(3,109)	6,180	(8,456)	10,149
Interest expense	(627)	(778)	(1,883)	(2,468)
Impairment of marketable securities	(7,886)	0	(30,626)	0
Other income (expense), net	7,905	33	9,177	6,514
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity method income	(3,717)	5,435	(31,788)	14,195
Benefit from (provision for) income taxes	(2,393)	(517)	4,267	(1,094)
Loss from equity method investees, net of taxes	(8,153)	(4,843)	(4,818)	(3,402)
Net income (loss)	(14,263)	75	(32,339)	9,699
Net loss (income) attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated entities	(211)	(238)	79	99
Net income (loss) attributable to Steel Excel Inc.	$ (14,474)	$ (163)	$ (32,260)	$ 9,798
Basic income (loss) per share attributable to Steel Excel Inc.:
Net income (loss) (in dollars per share)	$ (1.27)	$ (0.01)	$ (2.81)	$ 0.83
Diluted income (loss) per share attributable to Steel Excel Inc.:
Net income (loss) (in dollars per share)	$ (1.27)	$ (0.01)	$ (2.81)	$ 0.83
Shares used in computing income (loss) per share:
Basic (in Shares)	11,421	11,437	11,489	11,769
Diluted (in Shares)	11,421	11,437	11,489	11,790