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 Dec. 31, 2010	$ 3,757	$ 121,815	$ 105,816	$ 9,637	$ (5,262)
Accretion of redeemable noncontrolling interest		(37)
Equity based compensation		583
Exercise of stock options		(6)
Additional minimum pension liability, net of tax				140
Net unrealized holding (losses) gains arising during period, net of tax				(5,365)
Reclassification adjustment for gains included in net income, net of tax				(2,065)
Cumulative effect of adjustments resulting from adoption of change in accounting principle, net of tax			(485)
Balance, beginning of period, as adjusted			105,331
Net income (loss) attributable to Hallmark Financial Services, Inc.			(11,202)			(11,202)
Acquistion of treasury shares					(6,401)
Issuance of treasury stock upon option exercises					105
Balance, end of period at Sep. 30, 2011	3,757	122,355	94,129	2,347	(11,558)	211,030
Balance, beginning of period at Jun. 30, 2011	3,757	122,292	94,567	7,843	(10,068)
Accretion of redeemable noncontrolling interest		(31)
Equity based compensation		94
Exercise of stock options		0
Additional minimum pension liability, net of tax				47
Net unrealized holding (losses) gains arising during period, net of tax				(5,287)
Reclassification adjustment for gains included in net income, net of tax				(256)
Cumulative effect of adjustments resulting from adoption of change in accounting principle, net of tax			(536)
Balance, beginning of period, as adjusted			94,031
Net income (loss) attributable to Hallmark Financial Services, Inc.			98			98
Acquistion of treasury shares					(1,490)
Issuance of treasury stock upon option exercises					0
Balance, end of period at Sep. 30, 2011	3,757	122,355	94,129	2,347	(11,558)	211,030
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		(392)
Equity based compensation		317
Exercise of stock options		0
Additional minimum pension liability, net of tax				235
Net unrealized holding (losses) gains arising during period, net of tax				2,964
Reclassification adjustment for gains included in net income, net of tax				(1,329)
Cumulative effect of adjustments resulting from adoption of change in accounting principle, net of tax			(555)
Balance, beginning of period, as adjusted			94,440
Net income (loss) attributable to Hallmark Financial Services, Inc.			1,741			1,741
Acquistion of treasury shares					0
Issuance of treasury stock upon option exercises					0
Balance, end of period at Sep. 30, 2012	3,757	122,412	96,181	8,316	(11,558)	219,108
Balance, beginning of period at Jun. 30, 2012	3,757	122,669	92,768	5,888	(11,558)
Accretion of redeemable noncontrolling interest		(321)
Equity based compensation		64
Exercise of stock options		0
Additional minimum pension liability, net of tax				78
Net unrealized holding (losses) gains arising during period, net of tax				2,952
Reclassification adjustment for gains included in net income, net of tax				(602)
Cumulative effect of adjustments resulting from adoption of change in accounting principle, net of tax			0
Balance, beginning of period, as adjusted			92,768
Net income (loss) attributable to Hallmark Financial Services, Inc.			3,413			3,413
Acquistion of treasury shares					0
Issuance of treasury stock upon option exercises					0
Balance, end of period at Sep. 30, 2012	$ 3,757	$ 122,412	$ 96,181	$ 8,316	$ (11,558)	$ 219,108