Information About Segments of Business (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended										12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012		Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information
Accrual Of Employment Severance And Similar Costs															$ 10.7
Consolidated Revenues [Abstract]
Net premiums earned											4,456.6		4,043.8		3,695.5
Title, escrow and other fees											429.0		427.1		354.5
Sub-total											4,885.6		4,471.0		4,050.1
Total operating revenues											5,294.5		4,922.2		4,529.9
Consolidated net realized investment gains (losses)											148.1		47.8		115.5
Consolidated revenues	1,331.6		1,379.5	1,461.5	1,269.9	1,283.2		1,304.8	1,223.9	1,158.0	5,442.7		4,970.1		4,645.5
Consolidated Income (Loss) Before Taxes (Credits) [Abstract]
Consolidated net realized investment gains (losses)											148.1		47.8		115.5
Consolidated income (loss) before income taxes (credits)											672.9		(128.5)		(236.7)
Consolidated Income Tax Expense (Credits) [Abstract]
Income tax expense (credits)											225.0		(59.8)		(96.1)
Income tax expense (credits) on consolidated net realized investment gains (losses)											51.8	[1]	16.7	[1]	37.5	[1]
Consolidated assets [Abstract]
Assets	16,534.4					16,226.8					16,534.4		16,226.8
Deferred Policy Acquisition Cost, Amortization Expense															29.1
Goodwill, Impairment Loss											0		1.3
Deferred acquisition cost													37.9
General Insurance Group [Member]
Consolidated Revenues [Abstract]
Net premiums earned											2,513.7		2,324.4		2,109.4
Net investment income and other income											336.2		374.9		379.2
Total operating revenues											2,849.9		2,699.4		2,488.6
Consolidated Income (Loss) Before Taxes (Credits) [Abstract]
Income (loss) before income taxes (credits) and realized investment gains or losses											288.3	[2]	261.0	[2]	353.9	[2]
Interest charges on intercompany financing arrangements											28.9		28.1		25.0
Consolidated Income Tax Expense (Credits) [Abstract]
Income tax expense (credits)											90.9		77.4		111.8
Consolidated assets [Abstract]
Assets	13,276.6					12,770.2					13,276.6		12,770.2
Title Insurance Group [Member]
Consolidated Revenues [Abstract]
Net premiums earned											1,567.1		1,250.2		1,007.9
Title, escrow and other fees											429.0		427.1		354.5
Sub-total											1,996.1		1,677.4		1,362.4
Net investment income and other income											29.5		29.6		29.3
Total operating revenues											2,025.6		1,707.1		1,391.8
Consolidated Income (Loss) Before Taxes (Credits) [Abstract]
Income (loss) before income taxes (credits) and realized investment gains or losses											124.3	[2]	73.8	[2]	36.2	[2]
Interest charges on intercompany financing arrangements											7.9		8.0		5.3
Consolidated Income Tax Expense (Credits) [Abstract]
Income tax expense (credits)											44.0		26.5		11.5
Consolidated assets [Abstract]
Assets	1,185.5					1,076.5					1,185.5		1,076.5
Goodwill, Impairment Loss											0		0
RFIG Run-off Business [Member]
Consolidated Revenues [Abstract]
Net premiums earned											316.5		410.5		503.2
Net investment income and other income											36.8		36.7		61.3
Total operating revenues											353.4		447.3		564.6
Consolidated Income (Loss) Before Taxes (Credits) [Abstract]
Income (loss) before income taxes (credits) and realized investment gains or losses											110.0	[2],[3]	(508.6)	[2],[3]	(727.8)	[2],[3]
Interest charges on intercompany financing arrangements											0		2.1		8.0
Consolidated Income Tax Expense (Credits) [Abstract]
Income tax expense (credits)											38.5		(177.8)		(251.6)
Consolidated assets [Abstract]
Assets	1,822.3					2,051.1					1,822.3		2,051.1
Goodwill, Impairment Loss											0		0		10.7
Total of major segments [Member]
Consolidated Revenues [Abstract]
Consolidated revenues											5,228.9		4,853.8		4,445.1
Consolidated Income (Loss) Before Taxes (Credits) [Abstract]
Consolidated income (loss) before income taxes (credits)											522.7		(173.6)		(337.5)
Consolidated Income Tax Expense (Credits) [Abstract]
Income tax expense (credits)											173.5		(73.8)		(128.2)
Consolidated assets [Abstract]
Assets	16,284.5					15,897.9					16,284.5		15,897.9
Other sources - net [Member]
Consolidated Revenues [Abstract]
Consolidated revenues											123.3	[4]	126.4	[4]	143.7	[4]
Consolidated Income (Loss) Before Taxes (Credits) [Abstract]
Consolidated income (loss) before income taxes (credits)											2.1	[4]	(2.7)	[4]	(14.6)	[4]
Consolidated Income Tax Expense (Credits) [Abstract]
Income tax expense (credits)											(0.3)	[4]	(2.8)	[4]	(5.4)	[4]
Consolidated assets [Abstract]
Assets	549.8	[4]				626.2	[4]				549.8	[4]	626.2	[4]
Consolidation elimination adjustments [Member]
Consolidated Revenues [Abstract]
Consolidated revenues											(57.7)		(58.0)		(58.8)
Consolidated assets [Abstract]
Assets	(299.9)					(297.3)					(299.9)		(297.3)
Including CCI run-off business [Member] | General Insurance Group [Member]
Consolidated Revenues [Abstract]
Net premiums earned											2,543.5		2,366.9		2,167.7
Net investment income and other income											336.6		375.1		379.3
Total operating revenues											2,880.1		2,742.0		2,547.1
Consolidated Income (Loss) Before Taxes (Credits) [Abstract]
Income (loss) before income taxes (credits) and realized investment gains or losses											272.0	[2]	186.0	[2]	304.3	[2]
Consolidated Income Tax Expense (Credits) [Abstract]
Income tax expense (credits)											85.2		51.1		94.5
All CCI run-off business [Member] | General Insurance Group [Member]
Consolidated Revenues [Abstract]
Net premiums earned											29.8		42.4		58.3
Net investment income and other income											0.4		0.1		0.1
Total operating revenues											30.2		42.6		58.4
Consolidated Income (Loss) Before Taxes (Credits) [Abstract]
Income (loss) before income taxes (credits) and realized investment gains or losses											(16.2)	[2]	(74.9)	[2]	(49.6)	[2]
Consolidated Income Tax Expense (Credits) [Abstract]
Income tax expense (credits)											(5.6)		(26.2)		(17.3)
All CCI run-off business [Member] | RFIG Run-off Business [Member]
Consolidated Revenues [Abstract]
Net premiums earned											29.8		42.4		58.3
Net investment income and other income											0.4		0.1		0.1
Total operating revenues											30.2		42.6		58.4
Consolidated Income (Loss) Before Taxes (Credits) [Abstract]
Income (loss) before income taxes (credits) and realized investment gains or losses											(16.2)		(74.9)		(49.6)
Consolidated Income Tax Expense (Credits) [Abstract]
Income tax expense (credits)											(5.6)		(26.2)		(17.3)
Excluding CCI run-off business [Member] | RFIG Run-off Business [Member]
Consolidated Revenues [Abstract]
Net premiums earned											286.7		368.0		444.9
Net investment income and other income											36.4		36.6		61.2
Total operating revenues											323.1		404.6		506.1
Consolidated Income (Loss) Before Taxes (Credits) [Abstract]
Income (loss) before income taxes (credits) and realized investment gains or losses											126.3	[2],[3]	(433.6)	[2],[3]	(678.1)	[2],[3]
Consolidated Income Tax Expense (Credits) [Abstract]
Income tax expense (credits)											$ 44.2		$ (151.5)		$ (234.3)

[1] Reflects primarily the combination of fully taxable realized investment gains or losses and judgments about the recoverability of deferred tax assets.

[2] Income (loss) before taxes (credits) is reported net of interest charges on intercompany financing arrangements with Old Republic's holding company parent for the following segments: General - $28.9, $28.1 and $25.0 for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011, respectively; Title - $7.9, $8.0 and $5.3 for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011, respectively; RFIG Run-off - $-, $2.1 and $8.0 for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011, respectively.

[3] Income (loss) before taxes (credits) for 2011 includes an accrual of employment severance and similar costs ($10.7), elimination of previously deferred acquisition costs ($29.1) no longer deemed recoverable in future run-off periods, and a write-off of the historical goodwill balance of ($10.7).

[4] Represents amounts for Old Republic's holding company parent, minor corporate services subsidiaries, and a small life and accident insurance operation.