Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Treasury Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Retained Earnings	Non-Controlling Interest
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 431,962	$ 14	$ (41,617)	$ 272,786	$ 946	$ 199,772	$ 61
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012		14,365	1,458
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income/loss attributable to Steel Excel Inc.	10,671					10,671
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest	(3,344)						(3,344)
Other comprehensive income (Revised)	9,094				9,094
Net issuance of restricted shares (in shares)		143
Stock-based compensation	2,040			2,040
Repurchases of common stock (in shares)			(1,045)
Repurchases of common stock	(29,384)		$ (29,384)
Non-controlling interest of acquired entities	2,896						2,896
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	423,935	$ 14	$ (71,001)	274,826	10,040	210,443	(387)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013		14,508	2,503
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income/loss attributable to Steel Excel Inc.	(23,807)					(23,807)
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest	44						44
Other comprehensive income (Revised)	(25,246)				(25,246)
Net issuance of restricted shares (in shares)		9
Net issuance of restricted shares	(119)	$ 1		(120)
Stock-based compensation	2,807			2,807
Repurchases of common stock (in shares)			(311)
Repurchases of common stock	(10,354)		$ (10,354)
Reverse/forward stock split (in shares)		(297)
Reverse/forward stock split	(10,070)	$ (1)		(10,069)
Contribution from non-controlling interest	328						328
Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	357,518	$ 14	$ (81,355)	267,444	(15,206)	186,636	(15)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014		14,220	2,814
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income/loss attributable to Steel Excel Inc.	(97,407)					(97,407)
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest	(376)						(376)
Other comprehensive income (Revised)	9,660				9,660
Net issuance of restricted shares (in shares)		172
Net issuance of restricted shares	(85)	$ 0		(85)	0	0	0
Stock-based compensation	3,157			3,157
Repurchases of common stock (in shares)			(231)
Repurchases of common stock	(4,612)		$ (4,612)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 267,855	$ 14	$ (85,967)	$ 270,516	$ (5,546)	$ 89,229	$ (391)
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015		14,392	3,045