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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Basis of Presentation) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Mar. 31, 2014
Jul. 31, 2012
Basis of Presentation        
Assets held for sale $ 58.0us-gaap_AssetsHeldForSaleAtCarryingValue $ 58.1us-gaap_AssetsHeldForSaleAtCarryingValue    
OneBeacon Ltd.        
Basis of Presentation        
Cumulative Effect on Retained Earnings, Net of Tax 1.2us-gaap_CumulativeEffectOnRetainedEarningsNetOfTax1
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= wtm_OneBeaconInsuranceGroupLtdMember
0.5us-gaap_CumulativeEffectOnRetainedEarningsNetOfTax1
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= wtm_OneBeaconInsuranceGroupLtdMember
   
Ownership interest (as a percent) 75.30%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= wtm_OneBeaconInsuranceGroupLtdMember
     
Noncontrolling equity percentage 24.70%us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByNoncontrollingOwners
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= wtm_OneBeaconInsuranceGroupLtdMember
24.70%us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByNoncontrollingOwners
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= wtm_OneBeaconInsuranceGroupLtdMember
   
HG Global        
Basis of Presentation        
Surplus Notes       503.0us-gaap_SurplusNotes
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= wtm_HgGlobalMember
Percentage of par value of policy reinsured 15.00%wtm_PercentageOfParValueOfPolicyReinsured
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= wtm_HgGlobalMember
     
Noncontrolling equity percentage 3.10%us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByNoncontrollingOwners
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= wtm_HgGlobalMember
3.10%us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByNoncontrollingOwners
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= wtm_HgGlobalMember
   
Star & Shield Insurance Exchange        
Basis of Presentation        
Surplus Notes 19.0us-gaap_SurplusNotes
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= wtm_StarShieldInsuranceExchangeMember
     
Noncontrolling equity percentage 100.00%us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByNoncontrollingOwners
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= wtm_StarShieldInsuranceExchangeMember
100.00%us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByNoncontrollingOwners
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= wtm_StarShieldInsuranceExchangeMember
   
White Mountains Advisors L L C [Member]        
Basis of Presentation        
Investment Advisory, Management and Administrative Fees 2.0us-gaap_InvestmentAdvisoryManagementAndAdministrativeFees
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= wtm_WhiteMountainsAdvisorsLLCMember
  4.4us-gaap_InvestmentAdvisoryManagementAndAdministrativeFees
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= wtm_WhiteMountainsAdvisorsLLCMember
 
Preferred Stock | HG Global        
Basis of Presentation        
Ownership interest (as a percent) 96.90%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= wtm_HgGlobalMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_PreferredStockMember
     
Noncontrolling equity percentage 96.90%us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByNoncontrollingOwners
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= wtm_HgGlobalMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_PreferredStockMember
     
Common Stock | HG Global        
Basis of Presentation        
Ownership interest (as a percent) 88.40%us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= wtm_HgGlobalMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_CommonStockMember
     
Noncontrolling equity percentage 88.40%us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByNoncontrollingOwners
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= wtm_HgGlobalMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_CommonStockMember
     
Wholly Owned Properties [Member] | OneBeacon Ltd.        
Basis of Presentation        
Assets held for sale 58.0us-gaap_AssetsHeldForSaleAtCarryingValue
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_WhollyOwnedPropertiesMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= wtm_OneBeaconInsuranceGroupLtdMember
58.1us-gaap_AssetsHeldForSaleAtCarryingValue
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_WhollyOwnedPropertiesMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= wtm_OneBeaconInsuranceGroupLtdMember
   
Investment Income [Member] | OneBeacon Ltd.        
Basis of Presentation        
Cumulative-Effect Adjustment, Gross Gains 0.4us-gaap_CumulativeEffectAdjustmentGrossGains
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= wtm_OneBeaconInsuranceGroupLtdMember
     
Tax Expense [Member] | OneBeacon Ltd.        
Basis of Presentation        
Cumulative-Effect Adjustment, Gross Gains $ 0.6us-gaap_CumulativeEffectAdjustmentGrossGains
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= wtm_TaxExpenseMember
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= wtm_OneBeaconInsuranceGroupLtdMember