Earnings Per Share - Undistributed Net Earnings From Continuing Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income attributable to White Mountains’s common shareholders, net of restricted common share amounts	$ 230.4	$ 47.1	$ 217.4	$ 347.6
Dividends declared net of restricted common share amounts	0.0	0.0	(3.1)	(3.2)
Total undistributed net earnings, net of restricted common share amounts	$ 230.4	$ 47.1	$ 214.3	$ 344.4

Amount of paid and unpaid cash, stock, and paid-in-kind (PIK) dividends declared, for example, but not limited to, common and preferred stock.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120397183&loc=d3e187085-122770

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 405
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6957935&loc=d3e64057-112817

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_Dividends
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EarningsPerShareAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The earnings that is allocated to common stock and participating securities to the extent that each security may share in earnings as if all of the earnings for the period had been distributed.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 260
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 66
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121326447&loc=d3e2814-109256

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 260
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 60B
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121326447&loc=SL5780133-109256

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_UndistributedEarnings
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent, Net of Restricted Common Share Amounts

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wtm_NetIncomeLossAttributabletoParentNetofRestrictedCommonShareAmounts
Namespace Prefix:	wtm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration