Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (USD $) In Thousands	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Total
Balance, beginning of period at Mar. 31, 2011	$ 3,757	$ 122,074	$ 94,590	$ 8,207	$ (5,262)
Accretion of redeemable noncontrolling interest		(3)
Equity based compensation		227
Exercise of stock options		(6)
Additional minimum pension liability, net of tax				47
Net unrealized holding (losses) gains arising during period, net of tax				671
Reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income, net of tax				(1,082)
Cumulative effect of adjustments resulting from adoption of change in accounting principle, net of tax			(472)
Net loss attributable to Hallmark Financial Services, Inc.			(87)			(87)
Acquistion of treasury shares					(4,911)
Issuance of treasury stock upon option exercises					105
Balance, end of period at Jun. 30, 2011	3,757	122,292	94,031	7,843	(10,068)	217,855
Balance, beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2010	3,757	121,815	105,816	9,637	(5,262)
Accretion of redeemable noncontrolling interest		(6)
Equity based compensation		489
Exercise of stock options		(6)
Additional minimum pension liability, net of tax				93
Net unrealized holding (losses) gains arising during period, net of tax				(78)
Reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income, net of tax				(1,809)
Cumulative effect of adjustments resulting from adoption of change in accounting principle, net of tax			(485)
Net loss attributable to Hallmark Financial Services, Inc.			(11,300)			(11,300)
Acquistion of treasury shares					(4,911)
Issuance of treasury stock upon option exercises					105
Balance, end of period at Jun. 30, 2011	3,757	122,292	94,031	7,843	(10,068)	217,855
Balance, beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2011	3,757	122,487	94,995	6,446	(11,558)	215,572
Accretion of redeemable noncontrolling interest		(71)
Equity based compensation		253
Exercise of stock options		0
Additional minimum pension liability, net of tax				157
Net unrealized holding (losses) gains arising during period, net of tax				11
Reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income, net of tax				(726)
Cumulative effect of adjustments resulting from adoption of change in accounting principle, net of tax			(555)
Net loss attributable to Hallmark Financial Services, Inc.			(1,672)			(1,672)
Acquistion of treasury shares					0
Issuance of treasury stock upon option exercises					0
Balance, end of period at Jun. 30, 2012	3,757	122,669	92,768	5,888	(11,558)	213,524
Balance, beginning of period at Mar. 31, 2012	3,757	122,644	94,611	7,905	(11,558)
Accretion of redeemable noncontrolling interest		(90)
Equity based compensation		115
Exercise of stock options		0
Additional minimum pension liability, net of tax				79
Net unrealized holding (losses) gains arising during period, net of tax				(1,304)
Reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income, net of tax				(792)
Cumulative effect of adjustments resulting from adoption of change in accounting principle, net of tax			0
Net loss attributable to Hallmark Financial Services, Inc.			(1,843)			(1,843)
Acquistion of treasury shares					0
Issuance of treasury stock upon option exercises					0
Balance, end of period at Jun. 30, 2012	$ 3,757	$ 122,669	$ 92,768	$ 5,888	$ (11,558)	$ 213,524